Well, I know what tomorrow is. It’s the day that I get flowers in church. It’s the day that my sweet husband will make me my favorite meal: Chile Renos. It will be a good day.
What exactly does our roles as mothers mean? What does it involve? I wonder about these, and other questions frequently. I looked up in Proverbs what the wisest man on Earth has to say about us mothers. What I found, and the quantity of what I found, surprised me.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck. 1:8-9
~I wondered about this one until the “light” came on in my head: the father gives the instructions, but it’s the mother who in forces them. This makes sense. For who is with them more and who teaches them more? That’s a heavy responsibility we carry.
A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.
10:1
A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother. 15:20
~ Have you ever been in the store when you hear or see a child having a fit? How many times do you see this happening with only the mother? Or when your child is older and is making very foolish and unwise decisions. Yes, the father is affected. But as mother’s (and women), we take things so much more personally. We feel things on such a deeper level of emotion then do our husbands. That is why I think that the word “glade” is used for the fathers: it is an emotion, yes. But a “surface” one. The word “sorrow” is such a deeper felt emotion then just “sad”.
He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy. 19:26
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness. 20:20
~ This goes back to the first commandment with a promise, Deuteronomy 5:16. It is obvious that God holds the position of father and mother very highly. And it is not something to take lightly.
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to his own will, bringeth his mother to shame. 29:15
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 30:11
~ I worked in a day care for awhile and you could tell within 10 minutes which children were properly disciplined and those who were not (a few were abused and some were only “talked” to). And it’s true. Those children who were only “talked” to, were embarrassing and extremely hard to handle. And if this isn’t a generation who cure their parents, I don’t want to see the one that does. I’ve seen and heard children talking to their parents in ways that would have gotten me a sound slap from my parents. And I’m not that old.
The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth to obey his mother, let the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it. 30:17
~ I think this one speaks for itself.
While you enjoy Mother’s Day with the mother(s) in your life, remember what God has to say about motherhood. It is an honorable position, both for the mother and for the child. God doesn’t command the child to honor his mother when she is worthy of it. Because, truth be told, we often aren’t worthy of it. This doesn’t mean that we are at liberty to act any way we choose. Because those little eyes are watching us and those little minds are storing away information. We must always be aware of this. I don’t think there is something more disturbing to a Christian parent then to see the thing we hate in ourselves, staring back at us from our children.
Don’t forget the you, too, are some mother’s child. And while you may not be in her care any longer, we are still commanded to honor her and take care of her. Remember the words of Jesus in Mark 7:1-13. Honor your mother and father everyday of the week, not just one day a year. For God promises us that it will go well with us.