I've never met a person who could not recall a single happy moment, but I've met many who choose not to.

We are a rather odd creation.  It is amazing to me that God has shown the patience with us that He has.  We can have clear, unmistakable blessings and wonderful times of joy and laughter.  Then something happens...an annoying irritation, unpleasant aggravation, or maybe something very serious.  And in an instant we become so obsessed with the present that we dismiss the past.  We close off our minds and lock away our memories.  We find ourselves quickly changing, like the Prophet Jeremiah...

Sing to the LORD!  Give praise to the LORD!

He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

Cursed be the day I was born!

May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!

Jeremiah 20:13-14

Today we have developed complicated psychological explanations for such extreme swings in moods and attitudes, but the bottom line is that we all go through such times.  We want everything to be loving, peaceful, pleasant, rewarding, and we want it right now.  We create an image of life we think will make us happy in the present, and when that image doesn't match reality, we get angry and depressed.  We say, "Life's not what it's supposed to be", and we convince ourselves to believe that lie.

As I'm sure you've figured out by now, this Note is about honoring mothers.  No?  Well, let me explain.

Think back and, regardless of what may be happening right now, remember a time when you were happy, when the burdens of the world did not force their way into your life.  It may be difficult, but think hard.  There was such a time.  Perhaps it seemed brief, but it was there.  A time when you smiled and laughed.  A time when you could put aside your cares, worries and sorrows, at least for the moment.

How do I know this?  Because every moment of every day we search for that happiness.  We long for that time to be with us.  And we cannot long for that which we have never known.  We cannot fantasize or pretend.  It is impossible.  We understand sorrow because we have known joy.  We have cried meaningful tears because we have laughed long and loud.  We can feel loneliness in the depths of our souls because there was that time, that day, that moment, when we first believed in Jesus as the Son of God and felt the warmth of His love and His joy and His peace.  And we want it again and again and again.

So, what does this have to do with honoring mothers?  Pretty much everything.  For if you have never had a mother, you would never have been borne.  Had you never been borne, you would never have experienced joy, known happiness, discovered laughter or found friendship.  You would never have been able to love or be loved.  And you would never have had the opportunity to meet God, have life everlasting, and look forward to the time when...

Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:3-4

I have been blessed with an incredible mother.  My children have been blessed with an incredible mother.  We have known what it's like to have someone love and encourage us, who will stand with us when everything seems to be falling apart.  Not everyone has been blessed in that way.  But regardless of what you have experienced, your mother, even if you've never met her, gave you something of incredible value...life.  Without it, you would know nothing.  With it, you can know the Creator of the Universe.

Giving us life so that God may love us and we may love Him...this is why God has called us to honor our mothers.  And how can we do that?  Love each other. (John 13:34)  Encourage each other. (Hebrews 3:13)  Do the will of our Father in Heaven. (Matthew 7:21)  Whether our mothers are near or far, with us or gone on ahead...I pray that each day we will honor them.

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! Proverbs 23:25

Take care and be God's,

Chuck

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