Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day

Many of our faves here at BibChr are mothers. Happy Mother's Day to all of you. God bless you who raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You serve them best by walking with God, teaching them the Word, and loving their fathers by showing respect.

Godly mothers have moved history. Augustine traced his salvation to the mediate cause of his mother Monica's prayers. Timothy had both a godly mother and grandmother to model faith and ground him in the Word from infancy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). The great J. Gresham Machen said he learned the faith at his mother's knee. God bless you as you do the same for your children.

Husbands, today's a great day to do Proverbs 31:28-31.

Children, take it from someone who hasn't had a mother to love on this day for several years: take the opportunity while you still have it. She carried you, nourished you, bore you, loved you, cleaned you, stayed up nights with you, taught you, worried over you, opened up opportunities to you, formed your character, and loves you still.

This is a big theme in Scripture (cf. Proverbs 15:20; 19:26; 20:20; 23:22, 25; 28:24; 30:11, 17, for starters).

I'm blessed with a wife who is a phenomenal mother to all four of our children. No one knows better than I how she's breathed and lived and (at least emotionally) bled for them, how her heart is devoted to them. All four of them, before they drew their first breaths, were objects of her amazing mind, thinking and planning how to give them a richly-furnished life. We homeschool because of her vision (to which I converted), which provided the older two with early, solid and deep platforms to do amazing things. Because of that they've been exposed to an amazing array of educational and social experiences.

I remember Valerie staying up all night making clothes for my dear and only daughter, and for my oldest son, pouring her heart and soul into them devotedly day after day, all year long. They have her to thank for so much good in their lives.

Be sure you say your thanks today, too — you who still can.

It is difficult to think of much that is more contemptible or repulsive than a treacherous, cold-hearted, smug, ungrateful child, who has positively returned treachery and vile ingratitude for such depth of selfless devotion.

It is common for men to regard such ingratitude with contempt. But that attitude is dwarfed by the similar judgment of God (Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 15:20; 19:26; 28:24; 30:17). Such a creature should never imagine that he or she has the smile of God, the holy God who put the obligation (not merely not to dishonor, but) to honor father and mother at the very foundation of His social laws.

Among Jesus' last words, despite the unimaginable agonies of the Cross, were His arrangements to be sure that His human mother was cared for (John 19:26-27). How can one claim to follow Him, while showing cold contempt for his own godly mother?

"Thanks" should be a daily practice, for children and husbands. But this day marks a special opportunity. Take it!

8 comments:

Moon said...

Beautiful post!!!
Happy mother's day Mrs. Phillips!!! and The rest of the mommies here :D

One thing:
"How can one claim to follow Him, while showing cold contempt for his own godly mother?" or ungodly as well, for those of us who don't have Christian parents...we must honor, love and obey them as well and be thankful for them too and pray for them that the Lord will save them :)

DJP said...

Very good point, Rita, and thank you for making it.

I just meant that the child of a godly mother has a twofold cause for gratitude.

Thanks again.

Kim said...

Yer makin' me cry....

Michelle said...

I read this post out to my hubby and four children this morning - thank you for the encouragement and the challenge to us as mothers, fathers and children. Godly wisdom so succinctly and beautifully written, as usual. A lovely tribute to your wife too, she is truly a blessed woman.

And this part:

"Happy Mother's Day to all of you. God bless you who raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You serve them best by walking with God, teaching them the Word, and loving their fathers by showing respect."

... is going on my facebook page - it's too good not to share with my fellow Christian (and non-Christian) mums.

Thank you.

Burrito34 said...

A very appropriate and thoughtful post, Brother Dan, thanks. This Mother's Day has been busy at my house with my two daughters, each with their own infant daughters. When I went to work, I looked up your blog and you reminded me that I still needed to call MY mom and wish her a Happy Mother's Day.

DJP said...

Mission Accomplished.

(c;

sem said...

How very kind. Thank you!

Rachael Starke said...

Thanks for encouragement, and especially the exhortation to honor our own mothers. Although my parents are both believers, my upbringing was not conventional. Once I had my own children I wrestled a lot with resentment and other sinful emotions. Or, I should say, at first I didn't even wrestle and didn't see my thoughts as sinful. It's interesting that one of the first big changes in my heart after I came to understand the place of the law and the Ten Commandments in the life of the believer was a desire to keep the fifth commandment (not the fourth - I love that one!). The road has been rocky, as it may continue to be, but the very fact that I am confident God will walk alongside both us is one of my greatest assurances that I am truly His child.

So, that part of your exhortation was actually quite convicting! But, providentially, at dinner this evening I listened as my six year old read Romans 5 and all of us talked about inheriting sin from Adam and righteousness from Christ, and I had one of those moments. It was sweet.

Thanks again for the encouragement. All of it.

I need to go call my Mom and tell her I love her.