Happy Mother's Day

Want to thrill your Mom this Mother’s Day? What would be the best thing you could possibly do for the woman who carried you for nine months, delivered you into this world and fed, changed, bathed and clothed you? What would be appropriate to give to the one who made you wash behind your ears and brush your teeth, who did thousands of loads of your laundry and washed thousands of your dirty dishes? What gift could even begin to honor such a special woman who read you story after story, who packed your lunch each day and made sure you finished your homework each evening?

Maybe a beautiful bouquet of roses would do the trick. Sure, that’ll show her that you recognize her beauty and the unfading worth of her devotion as a mother. So they’ll fade away in a couple of days – the important thing is that you think she’s beautiful.

Or how about a gift certificate to a day spa? She’s worked so hard for years and years, laboring in love for her family, that she deserves to be pampered for a day. That should refresh her enough to keep her canning those garden beans for you again this summer.

I know, a nice pair of earrings. Yes, the ones shaped like a heart because you appreciate the sacrificial love she has shown to you. She’ll keep them in the jewelry box you gave her for Christmas, right along with the birthday bracelet you bought her and the other set of heart-shaped earrings you gave her last year for Mother’s Day.

Hmmm, there’s that restaurant she likes to eat at. If you can get there before 11 a.m. you should be able to beat the rush. They do offer a senior discount. Or there’s this new book out that teaches women how to be a good mom. She loves to read. Wait a minute, maybe she’d think that you don’t think she is a good mom and so she needs to read this book. Better scratch that.

What would thrill your Mother’s heart this Mother’s Day? May I suggest something that I think would absolutely delight your Mom not only for a day, but forever? How about this: Honor your Mother with your life! Honor her by living a life of integrity. Honor her by serving others in love. Honor her by raising your own family well. Honor her by making your life count for something.

How? Honor your Mother by giving your heart and soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of you know right now that you’ve abandoned the biblical values that your Mother holds dear. You’ve neglected the things of the Lord and followed your own self-centered pursuits. Some of you know that your rebellious choices have disgraced your Mother, and that your lifestyle grieves her deeply. She would love for nothing more than to see you turn from sin and turn to the way of Truth – Jesus. I’m not talking about just going to church. I’m saying come to your senses and fall upon the mercy of the Father in heaven, who waits to receive and welcome any who repent and call upon the name of Jesus.

“Well,” you say, “my Mother passed away already. It’s too late for her to see me come back to the Lord.” But I say to you, dear friend, that you turning to Christ right now and living faithfully for Him is even more certain to thrill your Mom. For if she’s in heaven now then there would be no small celebration over your turning from sin to Jesus. And if – God forbid – your Mom was an unbeliever, I assure you that from where her spirit dwells in torment now her only desire would be that you won’t go there, too.

Gifts are nice, don’t get me wrong. I’ve already given my own Mother a hanging basket in which Tyler and I planted some flowers, which my wife planned because I stink at giving thoughtful gifts. But do you know what God says about bringing Him gifts and offerings? “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Sam. 15:22). I would rather you show Me that you love Me by trusting Me and obeying My Word, He says, than to bring me the fattened calf to make yourself feel better while ignoring My instructions. Don’t you think your Mom feels the same way?

Thrill your Mom this Mother’s Day and forever by honoring her with your life. The greatest honor you can bring your Mother is a life of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. That will truly be a Happy Mother’s Day!