Hmmm, is this Mothers Day for all mothers, or should it be Mother's Day to personalize it for each of our mothers? Either way, on this day I am once again grateful for a good and godly mother who loved her Lord and finished her race well many years ago.
Jan has been and continues to be a great mother to our three children. Shelly our daughter-in-law is a wonderful mother to two amazing grandchildren. And five week's after giving birth to Amara, daughter Jeannie enjoys being a "Mom" on Mothers Day for the first time.
Here in Vietnam they don't celebrate Mothers Day, although the preacher in our local Ho Chi Minh congregation did preach on the theme of "Honour your Mother and Father" today. Instead they do celebrate Women's Day and on the Sunday nearest that day earlier this year, every woman was given a floral corsage as they entered the church sanctuary.
I love the fact (and have preached on the passage) that MattheW, in recording the genealogy of our Lord Jesus, inserts mention of four mothers. If you wonder how shockingly unusual this is, take a look at the many genealogies recorded in the OT, plus the one found in Luke 3. Then of course, Matthew's genealogy ends with "Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called the Christ."
Mary, mother of our Lord, surely played a role that can hardly be overstated. No wonder she was shocked by the angel's announcement that she would give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Shocked not only because she was a virgin, but because out of the hundred's of thousands of Jewish mothers down through the centuries, she was chosen for this unique role.
Recently I read that a majority of women surveyed, voted for the 1970's being the best decade in which to be a mother. The accompanying comments noted how relaxed society and parenting was in that decade compared to the huge weight of expectations put on mothers in recent years (at least in western culture): to keep their children physically, emotionally and psychologically safe; to make sure they are properly stimulated toward personal growth in those early pre-school years; to make sure their little ones are exposed to all of the correct educational, cultural and athletic opportunities possible; in effect to be "super moms".
In light of that, on this Mothers Day, it would be enriching to pause and consider: what kind of weight was place on "super Mom" Mary during all of the years she was raising the one about whom she was told: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:32, 33
Sometimes you read about the challenge modern parents face who are raising very gifted child prodigies.
Imagine carrying the enormous responsibility, the huge weight of parenting THE unique child, Jesus! Thank you God for your grace to Mary. And thank you on this day for all mothers who have given so much to their children.
Jan has been and continues to be a great mother to our three children. Shelly our daughter-in-law is a wonderful mother to two amazing grandchildren. And five week's after giving birth to Amara, daughter Jeannie enjoys being a "Mom" on Mothers Day for the first time.
Here in Vietnam they don't celebrate Mothers Day, although the preacher in our local Ho Chi Minh congregation did preach on the theme of "Honour your Mother and Father" today. Instead they do celebrate Women's Day and on the Sunday nearest that day earlier this year, every woman was given a floral corsage as they entered the church sanctuary.
I love the fact (and have preached on the passage) that MattheW, in recording the genealogy of our Lord Jesus, inserts mention of four mothers. If you wonder how shockingly unusual this is, take a look at the many genealogies recorded in the OT, plus the one found in Luke 3. Then of course, Matthew's genealogy ends with "Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called the Christ."
Mary, mother of our Lord, surely played a role that can hardly be overstated. No wonder she was shocked by the angel's announcement that she would give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Shocked not only because she was a virgin, but because out of the hundred's of thousands of Jewish mothers down through the centuries, she was chosen for this unique role.
Recently I read that a majority of women surveyed, voted for the 1970's being the best decade in which to be a mother. The accompanying comments noted how relaxed society and parenting was in that decade compared to the huge weight of expectations put on mothers in recent years (at least in western culture): to keep their children physically, emotionally and psychologically safe; to make sure they are properly stimulated toward personal growth in those early pre-school years; to make sure their little ones are exposed to all of the correct educational, cultural and athletic opportunities possible; in effect to be "super moms".
In light of that, on this Mothers Day, it would be enriching to pause and consider: what kind of weight was place on "super Mom" Mary during all of the years she was raising the one about whom she was told: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:32, 33
Sometimes you read about the challenge modern parents face who are raising very gifted child prodigies.
Imagine carrying the enormous responsibility, the huge weight of parenting THE unique child, Jesus! Thank you God for your grace to Mary. And thank you on this day for all mothers who have given so much to their children.
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