Mother’s Day
Celebration
John 20:19-23
A four-year old and a six year-year old presented their mom with a houseplant on Mother’s Day. They had used their own money to buy it and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, “There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you. It was real pretty but it was too expensive. It had a ribbon on it that said “Rest in Peace,’ and we thought it would be just perfect since you are always asking for a little peace so that you can rest.
Today we gather together to celebrate and honor the life and work of mothers. For me, motherhood is one of the most fundamental institutions of God’s creation. Although some of us may have struggled with their moms, but who of us can ever really forget our mothers. They were the ones who bore us, fed us, formed us, and molded us. Indeed, moms have a most profound impact on our lives, often more than any other person or event.
I remember watching a popular TV sitcom episode in which a woman turning 40 looked into a mirror and then cried out to her husband, “Oh my God! I’ve become my mother!” There is a lot of truth in that revelation because we often become what they have taught us. We inherit their genetic features and we imitate quirky family habits, characteristics, and dispositions which makes us who we are…our mother’s child. At its best (and that is usually the case), motherhood embodies all that is lovely in this world. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that part of the role of motherhood is to embody and model for their children, God’s love for His creation.
Today I’d like to share with you some funny, interesting and real stories about mothers.
A cartoon in the
When Giuseppe Sarto, who later became the great Pope St. Pius X, first became bishop, he experienced a little touch of vanity as he proudly held up his hand to his loving mother and said, “Mother, look at my Episcopal ring.” Her mother returned by holding up her elderly and worn hand bearing her faded wedding ring and said: “If it were not for this ring, you would not have that ring.”
George Washington once said, “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.”
Abraham Lincoln spoke similar words when he said, “All that I am or ever hope for, I owe to my angel Mother.
Thomas Edison once said, “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never likely have become an inventor.
Someone sent me today this email: What my mother taught me?
My mother taught me Religion: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, “You better pray the stain will come out of the carpet.”
My mother taught me Logic: From her decisive words, “Because I said so, that’s why.”
My mother taught me foresight: “Make sure you were clean underwear, in case you’re in accident.
My mother taught me Irony: “keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about.
My mother taught me about Stamina: “you’ll sit there ‘till all that spinach is finished.”
My mother taught me about weather: “It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.”
My mother taught me about Behavior Modification: “Stop acting like your father.”
My mother taught me about envy: “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful mom like you do.”
Well, today is mother’s day. I think you might enjoy sharing one of the Mother’s Day cards Susan sent Carol for this week. On the front it reads: “Mom through the years I’ve come to you for so many things…your help, your advice, your love.” And then on the inside of the card it continues: “Your make-up, your clothes, your money, your jewelry, and above all, your car. Thanks, mom, Happy Mother’s Day.
Yesterday I also received this email: What is a Mother, written by Frederick E. Kruse.
Somewhere between the youthful energy of a teenager and the golden years of a woman’s life, there lives a marvelous and loving person known as “Mother.”
A mother is a curious mixture of patience, kindness, understanding, discipline,
Industriousness, purity and love.
A mother can be at one and the same time, both “lovelorn counselor” to a heartsick daughter, and a “head soccer coach” to an athletic son.
A mother can sew the tiniest stitch in the material for that dainty prom dress and
She is equally experienced in threading through the heaviest traffic with a station wagon or van.
A mother is the only creature on earth who can cry when she’s happy, laugh
When she’s heartbroken, and work when she is feeling ill.
A mother is as gentle as a lamb and as strong as a giant.
Only a mother can appear so weak and helpless and yet be the same one who puts the fruit jar cover on so tightly even Dad can’t get it off.
A mother is a picture of helplessness when Dad is near, and a marvel of resourcefulness when she’s all alone.
A mother has the angelic voice of a member in the celestial choir as she sings Brahm’s lullaby to a babe held tight in her arms; yet this same voice can dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she call her boys in for supper, or cheers them on at a game.
A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at once and she alone can somehow squeeze an enormous amount of living into an average day.
A mother is “old fashioned” to her teenager; just “Mom’ to the her third-grader; and simple “Mama” to little two-year old son.
But there is hardly a thrill in life that can compete to pointing to that wonderful woman and be able to say to all the world, “That’s my mother.”
Happy Mother’s Day!