Renewing the Spirit | Recognizing our Mothers

article by Reverend RB Moore

After putting her three boys to bed, a young mother changed into a pair of old, baggy sweatpants, and a droopy sweatshirt to wash her hair. But, when her children began to jump up and down on their beds, she grew irritated. She hastily threw a towel around her wet hair, stomped into the bedroom, and issued a stern warning. As she left the room, she heard her three-year-old son ask his two older brothers, “WHO was THAT?”

Though the young mother was briefly not recognized by her youngest, during the month of May we make a special effort to recognize our mothers, as well as all the mothers in our community. In fact, it’s my hope that we will also recognize all the women who have nurtured us over the years. May our hearts be thankful; and may our actions show deep, abiding respect for the loving and influential ladies in our lives.

With this hope resting on our hearts, let’s think for a moment as to how we may recognize our mothers, or the women that impact us in positive ways. Exodus 20:12 encourages us to “Honor your father and your mother” … Here’s one application of this verse. We recognize our mothers by giving heed to their authority in our lives.

You may remember the childhood game called, “Mother, may I?” In this game a girl stands at the end of a playground while the other children stand at the other end. The children then aim to receive permission to make their way from where they stand to the other side, until everyone’s safe at home with their mother. 

One child may say something like, “Mother, may I take three giant frog hops forward?” The girl pretending to be the mother may answer, “No you may not. But you may take three baby steps forward and cry ‘Waaaay!” At the time my only observation was I was having fun spinning around in circles and watching my friends be silly, too. 

But there’s more happening here than meets the eye. In this game we are gently introduced to recognizing the well-intentioned authority of our mothers. It’s significant for children to learn the lesson of respect for well-meaning authority in the family setting.

This brings us to Mother’s Day. It’s a day to show respect for the times our mothers gave us permission, or even denied us permission, depending upon the behavior in question. For you see, often we do well to see a “No” as a disguised gift from God. To accept “No,” with grace and dignity may be one of the greatest lessons we ever learn in our relationships with the caring authorities in our family.

However, there’s another side to the coin when it comes to displaying honor toward our mothers. Please receive this admonition as softly as I intend to say it. We as parents and grandparents may often influence how the next generation reveals honor toward us, or not. That is to say, “We are called to be positive, spiritual examples for our young ones.” Look at 2 Timothy 1:5 with me for a moment. 

The Apostle Paul writes: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” … Here we see Timothy was influenced by the positive, spiritual pattern his grandmother and mother set for him to follow. 

To illustrate, once a young mother was going about her household chores one morning. Her preschool-aged son followed her step by step. At some point she almost tripped over him. She turned to him and asked, “Why are you following me everywhere I go?” The tyke replied, “Our Sunday school teacher told us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. But I can’t see him. So, I’m walking in yours.”

At some level our children and grandchildren follow in our footsteps. Let’s pray they will catch on to following Jesus as we seek to do the same. Yet it’s also true, if we wish for them to honor us, let’s honor them, by being a positive role model for them to follow. Thanks be to God. Amen.