Just this past weekend, our country celebrated Mother's Day. Most methods of celebration involve flowers, luxurious experiences, or special treats for the mothers in your life. Personally, I love the idea of having a special day that specifically thanks mothers for all they do to care for and nurture their families. It's so critical that mothers feel like the work that they do is important. Because every part of it is! All the little bits of invisible mental gymnastics that mothers do to make sure that everyone has dinner or when the last time the kids took a bath or what high-school presentation craft project needs to be completed for school the next day... Every part of life as a parent... They all make one big pile of responsibility that mothers deserve recognition for.
But for me, this past Mother's Day was a lot like just another weekend day. I still got jumped on, in my sleep, by my son at 6:00am. I still got climbed on like I was a jungle gym. Levi and I still took a drive to the mall with an indoor stroll. I still did dinner time and bathtime and bedtime. I still prepped lunch for the week and cleaned my bathroom. And it was wonderful.
See, I don't need to have a specific day to be celebrated because my husband and son celebrate me every chance they can. After a trip to a wholesale store for pizza and hot dogs, they'll stampede into the house with a huge bouquet of carnations just because Levi saw that they were mommy's favorite color. Or my husband will just tell me to go get my nails done while he and our son go to a hardware store for a couple hours. They'll pick up little presents at the grocery store because they saw something cute and thought of me. It happens at least once a week and it is the sweetest method of celebration that I've ever experienced. Not because I think I deserve it, but because my husband is teaching his son how to live a lifestyle of consideration for those he loves.
So, with Mother's Day over for another year, how can we begin to build this lifestyle of consideration for the people who have raised and loved us? How can we normalize celebrating our amazing mothers all year round so that we can set this commercial holiday aside in exchange for a lifelong attitude of gratitude?
Well, according to the Bible, it starts with honor.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which Adonai your God is giving you.
- Exodus 20:12
“Each one of you is to respect his mother and his father, and keep My Shabbatot. I am Adonai your God.
- Leviticus 19:3
‘Honor your father and your mother just as Adonai your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and it may go well with you in the land Adonai your God is giving you.
- Deuteronomy 5:16
But what is honor? According to the dictionary to honor someone is to "regard with great respect."
So how do we do that? Here are some simple steps.
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Listen to their advice with openness and consideration
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Acknowledge and affirm their contributions in your life
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Apologize promptly when you make mistakes
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Practice empathy and kindness in your interactions
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Find ways to express your gratitude for their influence in your life
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Disagree without anger or revilement
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Be honest without cruelty
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Be punctual to your appointments
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Actively choose to believe in their best traits
The Bible promises that if we honor our mother and father, it will go well with us. And that we will have a long life! But, did you know that there are consequences for not honoring them. Check out these verses for yourself and decide if living a life of honor for your mother and father is worth it to you. I know it is for me! Exodus 21:15-17, Deut 27:16, Prov 20:20, Prov 28:24, Prov 30:17
Here's to another year of loving and honoring our mothers & fathers!
I have a forever child daughter. She will be 50 next year. Some days are hard. I can be a shrew when I should be kind. Aches and lack of sleep for many years. This lifted my heart. I remember my husband and girl surprising me with some treat or flowers. She is my special girl. I pray for strength and courage to be the mom she deserves. It is just the 2 of us since Bob went to be with the Lord in 2011.
Emma on