Hear,
my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for
they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9
ESV
Mother's Day was declared an annual National Holiday in 1914
by President Woodrow Wilson. He directed the Congress to designate the second
Sunday of May as a special day for public expression of love and reverence for
the mothers of America. Since that time there has been a "Mother's
Day," and, I must say that even in 1914, it was long overdue.
Mothers, we know that you have a twenty-four-hour-a-day job, one which demands not only all your time, but also all of your attention and energy.
Few of us show our mothers the depth of love, honor, and respect that we should. We know we don't, and we feel guilty about it. So on Mother's Day, we try to make up for our failure by giving MOM gifts to symbolize our true feelings of affection and appreciation.
We give all sorts of gifts which range from the extravagant
to the simple, from store-bought to the homemade, from fancy flowers to
fattening foods. We should shower Mother with gifts, for indeed she needs to be
reminded of our love and gratitude for all she has done. My chief concern is
that this gift-giving not be relegated to just one day a year. We should give
to Mother each day. I want to suggest several gifts of a non-materialistic,
noncommercial nature, that are necessary in the Christian family and should be
given each day.
Honor
Children, no matter what age you are, from nine months to
ninety years, no matter how many children of your own you have, the Bible says
that the gift you should give your Mother every day is honor! One of our Ten
Commandments says, "Honor your Father and Mother ..." That means that
we children are to treat our mothers with great respect, in how we act toward
them and in the way we speak to them. Did you realize that in ancient Israel,
if a child cursed his mother, he was to be stoned to death? (Exodus 21:17) They
took God's law very seriously. The two main ways to honor your mother is
through your words and your life – how you live. If you really want to honor
your mother, you should live in a way that she will be proud of. You must live
an honorable life.
Obedience
Another gift that God says you unmarried children must give to your parents is obedience. As long as you live in the household of your parents, you have an obligation to obey them - provided they don't demand that you act contrary to God's word and will. For the Bible says in Ephesians 6:11 (and Colossians 3:20), "Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for that is the right thing to do."
Another gift that God says you unmarried children must give to your parents is obedience. As long as you live in the household of your parents, you have an obligation to obey them - provided they don't demand that you act contrary to God's word and will. For the Bible says in Ephesians 6:11 (and Colossians 3:20), "Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for that is the right thing to do."
This principle applies to unmarried children only, because
the Bible says in Genesis 1:27, that at marriage, "a man leaves his father
and mother and cleaves to his wife," (KJV) and a woman at marriage comes
under the authority of her husband.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:6
