We all have one. No one could be here without one. Some are better than others. But, we all need one. Of course I'm talking about our mothers. Dads are not needed, see Jesus' birth! But, moms are indispensable. We couldn't be born without our moms going through nearly nine months of pain and torture!
Most moms, however, have never reminded us of all they went through. Rarely would a mom tell a child of the excruciating pain she endured in the birth process. In fact, I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in John 16:21, "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." Jesus points out that we can so grateful for our moms in light of what they tolerated just so we could have a life.
I realize some reading this may not have had a loving and caring mom. She may have been abusive and mean. Yet, even at that, she did give you birth. And, it is up to us to respond in a loving way even to those who hurt us. This year, if she is still alive, order her some flowers and call her to tell her you love her and that the Lord loves her.
For those of us who have loving and caring moms it is imperative on us to let our moms know how much we appreciate all they have done for us. Long days and long nights were part of their lives. They fed us, changed our diapers, and kissed our scraped knees. They washed our clothes, took us wherever we needed to be, and rarely complained. These moms live out Jesus' words.
On Sunday, if your mom is still alive you MUST call her to tell her how grateful you are for her love. If you can, either take her out to eat or fix lunch at home and YOU do the dishes. Then, even when it isn't Mother's Day, show her you love her.
Today is Valentine’s Day. I would imagine each of us have loved ones we need to express our love to. This expression of love could be to our moms and dads, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, or other family and friends. This day has been set aside on the calendar as a remembrance of more than one saint named Valentine. In these cases it reflects one who lived with the love of God in their hearts. It wasn’t until the days of Chaucer that the thought of love turned to a romanic love.
Valentine’s Day is also remembered for a brutal attack that is anything but an expression of love. On Valentine’s Day 1929 members of the Al Capone gang murdered seven members of the Bugsy Moran gang in cold blood. This event has been known as the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” What a sad reminder of the hate some people express.
Of all the love we will ever experience from family and friends, none is more important than the love we experience from the Lord Himself. The Apostle John, who would come to be remembered as the :apostle of love,” wrote in 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us…” Even into eternity we will never be able to understand all there is to know of God’s love for us. At the death of Lazarus, when Jesus wept, just before raising him from the dead, the onlookers said, “Behold how He loved him.” God’s love for us was demonstrated most emphatically upon the cross of Jesus.
Could we ever out love God? Certainly not. But, none the less, we are to respond in love to our Saviour and others. Jesus summed up the whole Mosaic Law into two statements; love God, love others. On this Valentine’s Day, consider how much you love God and others. Be ready to be one who will reach out in love as deeply as God reached out in love to you.
Listen to this beautiful rendition of an old song about the love of God sung by Mercy Me.
