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| Volume 18 Number 5 May 2016 | Page 4 |
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| Volume 18 Number 5 May 2016 | Page 4 |
Robert Johnson
What do children do for their mother on Mother’s Day? Young ones often draw pictures, pick some colorful “flowers” from the yard, offer lots of hugs and allow dads to let them treat mom for a meal. As they get older, it may be some more expensive flowers than in the past, a phone call or a corsage, along with cards and hugs. Hopefully, it is a reflection of appreciation for all that mom has done, for the love they share, which is something that is expressed more than one day a year. With the passage of time, it can be remembrances and reflections on a relationship that now is past but lives on in one’s heart, memory and the life.
Being a mother, of course, involves bringing new life into the world. It is both a physical and an emotional experience, which lasts for a lifetime. It is filled with ups and downs, the need for discipline and forgiveness, and never-ending support. It’s being there for so many events in a child’s life, doing one’s best to fix matters gone awry and sharing in everything that happens, sometimes visibly and vocally, sometimes silently. It can seem to be a thankless task, but love motivates a mother to never give up. How appropriate, as Solomon pointed out, for her children to rise up and call her blessed (Proverbs 31:28).
In our society today, there are all kinds of mothers and all kinds of children. There are forces at work that make it more difficult than ever to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord. It is so very important for mothers, with the nurturing they provide, to emphasize the spiritual as well. How encouraging can it be for children to hear their mother praying for them, sharing the truths of Scripture with them and showing in her life how important the spiritual is to her, and so it should be to them?
My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life. (Proverbs 6:20-23)
Moms, then, before a child is desired and conceived, and brought from infancy to adulthood, need to commit themselves to God. How important it is to understand what a great blessing and a great responsibility they have in helping their children chart a course that leads to eternal life. What a great example Timothy’s grandmother and mother offered him, and no doubt made a difference in Timothy. Paul reminded him, “And you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). How did he know the sacred Scriptures from childhood? “Clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Thank God for godly mothers! What a difference they can make in the lives of their progeny, who can make a difference in others. Seeking the Lord’s help in guiding their lives is a blessing to every mother as well, as it helps to instill a deeper relationship with Him, a deeper spirituality in their lives. God’s wisdom is so clearly seen in how we are meant to interact with Him and each other, especially as family. May God richly bless all mothers seeking His will in their lives and in the lives of their children. May we pray for mothers and be an encouragement to them in the awesome role they have in life. May we seek to honor them by living faithful lives in Christ and share together in the hope of eternal life, the greatest gift a mother can receive from her children.
Practical Pointers for Parents
T. Pierce Brown (deceased)
The hardest thing about the following list is trying to resist the temptation to write a paragraph or page about each reference listed. We shall try to list as concisely as possible every reference in the Bible we can remember that deals with admonitions, commands and examples of proper and improper conduct of parents, with a short comment on the lesson indicated.
Note on Proverbs
Proverbs is full of wise sayings that Solomon said should be taught to our children. We shall note a few of the outstanding ones: 4:7 – Get wisdom and insight; 4:17 – Shun evil companions; 4:24-27 – Talk and live straight; 5:8 – The value of chastity; 5:9-11 – The dangers of idleness; 5:14 – The danger of sowing discord; 10:19 – The value of restraining their language; 11:24-26 – The value of being liberal; 11:28 – Not to trust in riches; 23:30 – Not to be a winebibber or glutton; 24:21 – Fear and obey the Lord and earthly rulers.