LEARNING DAILY

Proverbs 31:27-29, She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

In the last page of the blog, we looked at Psalm 139 :13, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother 's womb. I praise you.” Sunday, mothers are celebrated, and I would like to take a few moments to remember and reflect on them. I need to be the first to confess that mothers are taken for granted and underappreciated for what they do to make our life easier; my sister would certainly agree that her brother did that too often. My daughters and my grandchildren need to take the time to reflect on all your mothers have done for each of you and let them know how thankful you are for that!

Your mother’s special influence on you has been very important on who you have become. Has she shown kindness to you? Has she taken time to care for not only your needs but to help with those wants? What about showing you patience and grace? Did she ever become what people call a “momma bear” and come to your defense when situations needed that to happen (or even when you had the situation under control)? I remember more times than I want, as an educator trying to calm down that “momma bear” when she did not fully understand the situation (at least my side of it). I know there are other educators reading this who are snickering right now because you know!

My daughters, like you, had a hardworking mother as they grew up. The woman described in the passage from Proverbs was hardworking – anything but being sluggish. I recently read through a year’s diary about the things that were done in that year by their mother. Allow me to use descriptions from other verses from Proverbs 31 that describe principles my daughter’s mother and I bet describe your mother as well. Trustworthy (v. 11), skilled in what she does (v. 13), sought what was best, not convenient (v. 14), sensible (v. 16), showed you how work hard even when the work was not glamorous (v. 17), planned ahead (v. 18, 21), efficient and worked extra to provide for the family (v. 24).

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her”! Growing up it is pretty easy to not notice these things mothers do. It may not even be until you have children of your own. Being a mother is not easy; tough decisions need to be made that children do not understand. My prayer for this Mother’s Day is for each of you to consider what your mother has done for you. If you are still able to thank your mother, I mean really thank her, for doing what she did and does, do not let the day slip by without doing so. Give her the compliments and the thanks she deserves for her love for you, the hard work she did to provide for your needs and wants. Most of all, thank her for her devotion to the Lord.

I finish with, "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Husbands if you are like me, we do not thank the mother of our children enough for all they do to make our household be efficient and loving. Join me in expressing to your wife how much you love and value her and her contributions to making your home what it is!