Mother’s Day is a strange day for me. I regularly fail to adequately show my own appreciation for my wife, who is the mother of our sons in a way that would express what I really feel. My wife is a good mother, and I’m glad to watch her mother our boys.
The strangeness of Mother’s Day is even more felt in my role as a pastor. Some of the mothers in front of me, as I stand behind the pulpit, are great mothers. Some have great mothers, and lovingly celebrate Mother’s Day.
To those who fall into these categories, I want to say, thank you for all you do. Thank you for being the mothers you are. Furthermore, I want to praise God for His gift of such a mother to you. Few things in life will be as valuable.
Some of the mothers in front of me have not been the mother they want to be, or they live with the disappointment of having a mother who is falling short. To these I want to say, may you find comfort and rest in Christ, whose perfect righteousness counts for imperfect people (including mothers). And to the disappointed, may you find grace for the mother who has not fulfilled her role so well. After all, Christ has shown you such grace.
Some of the ladies in front of me have wanted to be mothers, and have not been able to do so. Some have been mothers, and have felt the sting of unspeakable loss. Some have lost their mother, and this day reminds you of that loss.
What words might I bring to these? I feel utterly incapable of saying anything of value. Not because there is nothing to say… Of course, the Bible has much encouragement, comfort, hope, and life to offer them. But I feel that I am an inadequate spokesman on a day like this.
May I simply say, in regards to Mother’s Day, God is so gracious, loving, and kind.
Where we see mothers reflecting such things, may we rejoice with gladness that these mothers give us a glimpse of God’s own character. Where we see people fail to express these things well, may we rest in the knowledge that God’s gracious grace meets all who love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us celebrate, let us sing, let us praise, let us glorify the one who is our all in all – Jesus Christ. May our focus and attention and devotion be given to Him above all else.
Holding the Line 