Mother’s Day

For most families, Mother’s Day involves time spent with one’s mother (going to church together, going out to eat together, and time spent visiting together), but not for me.  You see, I’m the one preaching so that you can sit with your mother and listen to a “Mother’s Day” sermon.  In fact, I got to thinking and I discovered that I haven’t been with my Mother on Mother’s Day for 29 years (four years of college, and 25 years of preaching).  So while I am willing to make this concession, I would ask that you bear with me as I share a few of my Mother’s Day thoughts.  You’ll probably find that many of my thoughts could equally apply to you and your mother.

When I think of my Mother, I think of a clean house (and I mean a clean house!  Well, except for my sister’s room.  We kind of gave up on that, but we did keep the door closed).  I think of countless trips up and down the basement stairs with loads of laundry.  I think of dusting, vacuuming, and perfectly made beds (the Marines would be proud!).  I think hand washing and drying all the dishes, and I think of scrubbing the copper bottom of pots and pans with an S.O.S. pad (every time the pans were used!)

When I think of my Mother, I think of food.  I think of hardly ever going out to eat.  I think of big Sunday meals.  I think of being awakened to the pounding sound of steak or roast being tenderized on a Sunday morning.  I think of Sunday evenings after church, when all the food was drug out, and re-heated on the stove (no microwaves).  I think of homemade noodles, chicken so tender it falls off the bone, homemade rolls, cold apple sauce (my sister liked it hot), and cookies, pies, and cakes.  I also think of being forced to at least try whatever it was on my plate that was green.

When I think of my Mother, I think of a “neighborhood mother.”  I think of how she allowed our house to be the neighborhood gathering place.  I think of hot Summer days when 15 boys would dirty 15 glasses 15 times a day!  I remember “no wrestling in the living room!”  I remember an extra place setting at our table for some friends who were never sent home, but ate with us all the time.  I think of hot chocolate awaiting myself and my friends after several hours of sledding in the snow.

When I think of my Mother, I think of a Christian.  I think of how many times our basement was used by the church to conduct meetings of various sorts (the church building didn’t have a meeting area, but we lived next door to the building, and had a big, finished basement.  So meetings were held at our house, which meant work for my mom; cleaning, laundry put away, chairs to set up and take down, etc., and just having your home “invaded” on a regular basis).  I think of a neighborhood Bible class my mom tried to conduct for the kids in the neighborhood.  I think of sitting beside her as she read from a red book that had Bible stories illustrated by stick figures.  I think of being asked if I was ready for Bible class and if I had completed my lesson.  I think of her helping me to memorize the 12th chapter of Romans.  I think of attending gospel meetings as a family.  I think of sitting beside her in church and using her shoulder and lap as a pillow.  I think of her being my 1&2 grade Bible class teacher.

Most of all, when I think of my Mother, I am thankful.  How could I have been more blessed?  How different could my life have been if I had not had a mother like I have?  I know that there are a lot of people who think they had the best mother in the world, but I happen to know that they are mistaken. Thanks for everything, Mom!