Mother's Day
By Chap Bettis

This morning is Mother’s Day. And often times, the way to honor Mom for young children falls on Dad. How should we honor Mothers? Some would buy flowers, candy, cards. Others buy more unusual gifts.

I came across some helpful hints on What NOT to Buy Your Wife: Although the only person a man usually shops for is his wife, the whole experience is a stressful one. I'm still not sure what to buy my wife, but I'll pass on what not to buy her:

· Don't buy anything that plugs in. Anything that requires electricity is seen as utilitarian.

· Don't buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. If you buy it too large, she’ll say, “Do I look like I’m this size?” Too small a size doesn't cut it either: "I haven't worn a size 8 in 20 years!"

· Avoid all things useful. The new silver polish advertised to save hundreds of hours is not going to win you any brownie points.

· Don't buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement. She'll perceive a six-month membership to a diet center as a suggestion that's she's overweight.

· Don't buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can't afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn't want.

· Finally, don't spend too much. "How do you think we're going to afford that?" she'll ask. But don't spend too little. She won't say anything, but she'll think, "Is that all I'm worth?" (Herb Forst in Cross River, NY, Patent Trader, in Reader's Digest, p. 69.)

So that is how not to honor Mom on this day, but how can we honor our mothers?

· The duty of children to honor their parents is not limited to one day. Thr fifth of the ten commandments is “Honor your father and mother.” So the call to honor our parents is not limited to one day. What does it mean to honor your parents?

· Webster’s defines honor in several ways:

o First, honor is dignity, exalted rank or position.

o Second it is our attitude toward that person: To revere and respect, to treat with deference and submission.

o Third, it is a testimony of that esteem and high estimation

· And it is good for you to honor her. Paul writes that this is the first command with a promise.

o So that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.

o With that verse, God ties reverence and respect of your mother with blessing.

· Children, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Teens, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Adults, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Parents, if you want your children to be blessed, train them to honor you and keep this promise before them.

How then do we honor our mothers? Four methods from Scripture.

First method, put her in second place in your life. Matthew 10:37-38. Stated another way, love Jesus more than her.

· Matt 10:37-39 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

· Just as there is an Olympic stage with different levels for first, second and third, so we have different places in our hearts. We must be careful that we do not elevate Mom above Jesus Christ.

· You are to study to please Jesus and not necessarily your Mom.

o In the process a godly Mom will be honored, even if she doesn’t like it. A mom who does not know the Lord may give you trouble.

o But we must follow the example of Jesus who loved and honored his mother perfectly (without sin) and yet went to the cross. He knew that Simeon’s prophecy for Mary would come true – “A sword will pierce your own soul.”

· The first way we honor our mothers is to put them in their rightful place, under Jesus Christ.

· Children – love your mom by loving Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

· Adult children who face Moms who don’t know the Lord – Will you love Jesus more than your Mom’s approval?

· Moms, I know you do not want a godly sword to pierce your soul. Children are supposed to bury their mothers, not mothers their sons. But Jesus honored his mother by following his call and dying on the cross. Will you raise your child to love Jesus more than you?

There is second method to honor your mother: Don’t be a fool. Proverbs 10:1

· Prov 10:1 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

· By my count there are 7 other proverbs that state this same principle.

o Even after the umbilical cord is cut, here is an invisible connection between the behavior of the children and the joy or heaviness that a parent feels.

o A wise son brings joy to his mother a foolish child bring grief. (15:20, 17:21; 17:25; 23:15-16; 23:24-25; 29:3; 29:15)

· Children – love your Mom by becoming wise.

o Wisdom is not just knowledge, it is knowledge put into action. It is making good choices in life.

o Websters - The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them

o Know that when you are making wise choices you are in some way paying back your parents with good.

o Know that when you are making foolish rebellious choices, you are bringing a heaviness to their heart.

o The wiser you are, the more blessed you will be, the more blessed your Mom will be.

· Moms – pray hard for your children that they will have a heart of wisdom. Do all you can to develop a heart of wisdom. Pray that your children will live skillfully.

The third method for honoring your mother is: Bless your mother with your mouth. Proverbs 30:11

· Prov 30:11"There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;

o This passage starts a long list of evil deeds. But at the height of those is cursing one’s parents and not blessing one’s parents.

o At the beginning we saw that honor was not only the attitude we had but the expression of that attitude. To bless is to praise for the benefits received.

· Positive words bring a powerful blessing to the recepient and to us.

o the tongue of the wise brings healing. 12:18

o A kind word cheers up the anxious heart. 12:25

o Pleasant words are sweet to the soul. 16:24

· Children - How can you do that?

o How about making a list of 31 things your mom does for you and the family which you seldom thank her for. Make a point of thanking her specifically for one on each day of the coming month. On each day of the following month pay her a new compliment on one of her good attitudes, character qualities, habits or talents. Mark Twain once said he could live a week on a good compliment.

o Also put a check on your grumbling. Not complaining about your mom to other friends.

· Adults – even if you face a mother that does not know the Lord you can still bless her. Scriptures says we overcome evil with good. And as we overcome evil with good, we are blessed.

The fourth method for honoring your mother: Listen to her. Proverbs 23:22-25

· Prov 23:22-25

o Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

· In this passage, not listening to your mother is compared to despising her.

o Why? Because God’s plan was to give you this woman as one of your closest advisors.

o God providentially gave you to your mother and not to another mother. She’s may not be perfect but she’s perfect for you.

o When you listen you are showing respect and reverence and honor.

o Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had 4 sons and they were all preachers. Someone asked one of the sons "Howard, who is the greatest preacher in your family?" Howard had a great admiration for his father and he looked straight across at him and then without a moments hesitation he answered, "Mother." A. Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life, Eerdmans, p. 139

· Children – Scripture commands you to listen to your Mom.

o Prov 1:8-9 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

· Mom’s study so that what you say will be a necklace to adorn them.

o Proverbs 31:26 – She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

God ties reverence and respect of your mother with blessing.

· Children, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Teens, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Adults, if you want to be blessed, honor your mother today and the other 364 days out of the year.

· Parents, if you want your children to be blessed, train them to honor you and keep this promise before them.

A brother and sister wanted to buy their mother a plant for Mother’s Day. They finally settled on one that suited her perfectly for Mother’s Day. Since she was always asking for peace and quiet, they bought her plant with a ribbon that said, “Rest in Peace.”

If you have any questions, comments or observations, please call Chapman Bettis at 401 727-2367 or John Riley at 401-453-5550 or email at johnr@cornerstoneri.com