I REMEMBER

I REMEMBER, Mama! And because of those memories, Mother’s Day has long been one of my favorite holidays. It has been my good fortune, not only to have had a mother who dearly loved me and my siblings, but to have been blessed with a wife who was the ideal mother to my children. Is it any wonder that Mother’s Day is of great importance to me? My only regret is that I did not adequately communicate this sentiment to the two ladies who had the greatest impact on my life – impact saturated by their selfless love.

There can be different reasons why someone might love another, and there can be divergent ways by which love can be expressed.

When we think of God’s love for us the thought of “giving” comes to mind: “For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son” (JOHN 3:16) to save us from our sin and its punishment. God loves us, so He is generous in giving to us that which we need. That’s how our heavenly Father behaves!

On the other hand, we demonstrate our love for God by our obedience to His will: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). God loves primarily by giving us a Savior; we love God by giving Him our obedient service and worship. That’s how God’s children should act!

When I think of a word that defines the love of a mother, perhaps “sacrifice” comes closest. Surely my mother and my wife denied themselves to care for their loved ones, putting the child’s wants before their own needs.

My mother suffered from arthritis, an ailment with which I am developing an acquaintance. Despite her discomfort, she faithfully worked through the pain to care for her family. Many were the times when my sisters and I would have been gladly content with a peanut-butter-and- jelly sandwich, but she persevered in her task of providing a solid, balanced meal for us. That’s what mothers do!

A couple of years ago, I experienced my greatest loss and my wife realized her greatest gain when she left this world to claim her inheritance in heaven, purchased for her by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Though I had some idea of how much she sacrificed in serving our family, it was only when she was no longer here that I realized a whole lot more about just how much she gave to us through her sacrificial love. But that’s how mothers are!

And because that’s the way they are, they deserve their special day when we honor them, when we give respect to those mothers who have blessed our lives by their loving sacrifices for their families. Our world is a far better place because of mothers, in large part because we are better individuals because of our mothers.

How can we say “thanks;” how can we show love and appreciation to our mothers? Perhaps we can give them the honor they have merited by trying to discern what kind of person our mother would like for us to be. Of course, it is appropriate for us to give them flowers or candy, but they would be more pleased to see those characteristics in us that they sought to develop. And when they see their children growing into mature, caring adults, I am confident that they have no regrets with regard the sacrificial love they showed those for whom they cared so dearly. That’s just the way mothers are!

Let’s all remember Mama! And may those memories encourage us to be the kind of person her sacrificial love deserves.

article by PAUL LIPE opinion expressed is that of the writer