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A Mother's Day Reflection: Reconcile With Your Mother
by Rev. Moses K. Ndereva,
Pastor – Lifeline Community Fellowship
Mother’s Day Reflections
Key Scriptures:
Judges 17:1-2
1 Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “The LORD bless you, my son!”
Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures”.
Proverbs 28:24
“Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys”.
Proverbs 20:20
“If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness”.
- Who ran to help me when I fell, and would some pretty story tell, or kiss the place to make it well? My mother”: Ann Taylor
- “I regard no man as poor who has a godly mother.”: Abraham Lincoln
Introduction:
Thinking about mothers, one cannot forget the little things they did to make a lasting impression in our lives. A mother is the doctor with medicine on her tongue and a nurse with her hands. She is the responsible for not only bringing us forth but bringing us up. Her inspiration drives fear from us as she swings us in the air and spectates as we take our first baby steps. She feeds us, clothes us and knows what we can’t speak with words. Yet we find strength to retort, answer back, take advantage of them and even rob them of goodwill and property. May God forgive us.
Who Else But A Mother:
Who understands our silly mistakes? Who bears with our falls? Who never gives up on us when trying? Who cares for us when we become helpless? Who never counts the measure of love given to children? Who cries when things are not working for us? Only a mother stands all things, bears all things and never keeps a record of wrongs. We experience true love from true mothers. Mothers offer true love because they cheer us, stand up for us and also hold us accountable to the highest standards possible. When we are young we think we know our mothers but it is until we grow up to maturity that we know who they really were. Mothers are the reason we are.
Where We Go Wrong as Mothers
When mothers think that loving children is just pampering and cheering them, they fail them in the latter years. Discipline is part of love for children. “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, says the scripture and the wise sayings. We cannot afford to have children doing whatever they like because they really do not know what to do. If we are to change this world for God, it will start by changing the way we think about our children. They are a gift from God and we have a responsibility to hold them accountable to standards. The standard you set will be used for or against you by the child. A child left to his or her own devices is a weapon in the making and there will not be a turn-off switch when the weapon explodes.
Where We Go Wrong as Children
We fail our parents and especially mothers when we make them remember the pain of child birth. The child is the reason a mother forgets labor pains. When we fail to obey and honor mothers, we rob them of the joy and goodwill of motherhood. Many times we rob them unawares and sometimes deliberately. As mothers age, they become increasingly reliant in their offspring for decisions. They fall back on children.
Unfortunately, there are those like Mica who have taken away hundreds of shekels secretly or by theft from their mothers. Mica knew he cannot afford to live under a curse. He returned the shekels in favor of the blessing. The mother never held it against Mica; in fact, she dedicated all of it and returned it back to mica. Everything we give to our mothers is a gift in keeping for ourselves. We should not go astray and fail our mothers robbing them of the little they have. If we are in business with them, we must be careful to pay our dues. If we have borrowed from them, we must pay back.
Children have a habit of mocking parents with their eyes. The bible says ravens will gore out our eyes. This means we lose sight when we fail parents. Our future is hard to see; in fact it is cut short. We should honor parents in the Lord for this is right (Ephesians 6:1). If we want to enjoy long life, honor of parents is a prerequisite. If we want to prosper, it starts with a godly mother. Abraham Lincoln said he does not regard as poor a man who has a godly mother. The prayers of a godly mother move God. When people ran short of wine, it was Mary the mother of Jesus that entreated Jesus as a mother to work ahead of his schedule to work out a solution for the wine. It is always hard to deny a request by a mother unless it is not God’s will. Mothers are the best negotiators and trouble shield for children. Salome stopped at nothing requesting a right and left seat for her sons who were disciples of Jesus. Mothers have no shame when it comes to a fight for their children.
Conclusion: Confess and Repent
We must confess to our parents where we think we have gone astray. Where we have robbed them, we must return the loot. Nothing means more to a mother than to see a child back in order! We must prevent curses by restoring fellowship with our mothers. We are not to give mothers a reason to complain, rather, give them a reason to rejoice. They will command a blessing on your behalf and give you what you have returned to them. You are the hope for your mother. Let us pray to God that our sins against our parents are forgiven and the curses revoked for blessing.
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