“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) Paul reiterates that 5th commandment in Ephesians 6:2-3, adding that it is the first commandment to which there is a promise attached—the promise of a long life.
Mother’s Day is the day after the day after tomorrow; don’t fail to show her special honor in some way. I know that some were born into a family where the mother was, more often than not, dishonorable. But I refuse to believe that is the norm; in fact, I believe every mother has a special “mother’s heart” for each of her children. That conviction moved me to write this poem in honor of my mother some years ago—and, when she passed away almost 20 years ago, to share it with all mothers in honor of motherhood.
God’s Gift to Mankind:
“Built for us in God’s own heart,
She would love us from the start;
Watching o’er us like no other,
We would cherish our dear mother.
In her arms she drew us near,
There would chase away each fear;
Through her loving, soothing voice,
We knew we were hers by choice.
From her eyes there shone rare grace,
Love was written on her face;
With her hands she met each need,
All our calls and cares did heed.
She was our first loving teacher,
Doctor, nurse and even preacher!
Words of kindness she would say,
Coaching us along life’s way.
Her wise lessons were our rule,
Ere we set a foot in school.
She would teach us by her life,
How to cope with stress and strife.
One could see her angel eyes,
When we called with coos or cries;
She was ever quick to come,
Caring ‘til the day was done.
Lullabies and sweetest song,
We could listen all day long.
Darkest room with heaven’s light,
Mother’s presence would make bright.
With a word or touch we’d know,
All was peaceful here below.
In her warm and caring arms,
We were safe from fears and harms.
So on this her special day,
We would simply pause to say,
‘Mother, mother, mother dear,
You have brought to us such cheer!
We thank and praise you for your love,
You’re a gift from heaven above!
From our earliest infant cry,
To the day that we shall die.
We’ll thank God for you forever,
Nothing from your heart will sever.
‘Till we draw our life’s last breath,
We will cherish you till death.
We will honor our dear Mother,
For she loved us like no other;
Built for us in God’s own heart,
She has loved us from the start.”
(ALS)
I am happy to say—and I am sure many husbands/fathers who read this would say the same of their own wife—that God in His grace gave me a wonderful wife who fully fits the description painted in this poem of a mother who is a gift from God. We join together, then, in wishing these wonderful wives and mothers the happiest Mother’s Day this year.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her…Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:28,30)
YOU and GOD 