Mother's Day

Yesterday, when talking with my grandchildren about Mother's Day, they asked a logical question: is there a Children's Day? I laughed and said that "everyday is Children's Day!" In North American culture, I think this is pretty true, but today is a day set aside specifically to honour mothers.

The ancient Israelites were admonished--no, commanded: "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). Paul brings this forward to the New Testament church in Ephesians 6:2-3) when he emphasizes the promise attached to the commandment: "'Honour your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'"

Of course, in those times, there was no special day on which people honoured their mother; it was a year-round thing! It was an attitude and it was action.


What about today? The telephone company statistics tell us that more long-distance phone calls are made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year, even Christmas. Flowers are bought and delivered. Family dinners are prepared, or Mom is given a day off from cooking dinner and washing dishes because her family takes her out to dinner. If they can't afford to go out, the kids will make her "breakfast in bed." When I was a kid, this event was tolerated with great affection and appreciation, and I can tell you from personal experience that crumbs in the bed are easily disposed of.


My mother passed away several years ago, but today I think of her. I think of her kindness, her creativity, her selflessness. I think of her strength, her determination, her stick-to-it-iveness. Of course, I think of her love. Her love to her family, her love to my sisters, her love to me.

With these thoughts in mind, I wish "Happy Mother's Day" to my daughter, who is a great mother to my grandchildren. She is carrying on in my mother's footsteps.

To all my friends who are mothers, I wish a Happy Mother's Day. May your "children rise up and call [you] blessed" (Proverbs 31:28).

The photos here are pictures of my mother when she was young. She was beautiful, and still is in my eyes.