Thought for Today
Psalm 22:10 On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Proverbs 19:26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother are children who cause shame and bring reproach.
Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 4:16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
Yesterday was the fourth Sunday following Easter. Yesterday was also Mother’s Day. Yet, this morning, as I stood glaring at the coffee pot, falsely convinced that would make it perk faster, I noticed a piece of Easter ‘grass’ tucked into a corner of the kitchen floor. I know positively that Greta has swept that floor countless times since Easter. I have even swept that floor in the interim. Yet, there it was, a piece of that green plastic ‘grass’ that is so ubiquitous at Easter. I admit that my first thought was that my own mother was sending me a sign; and, I wondered exactly how to interpret that sign.
For those who have never lived in the South, it is hard to fully understand the impact Southern moms have on their sons. I mentioned to someone at church yesterday that when churches in the South graph their attendance, there are always 3 discernable peaks, Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day. The highest peak often was not the one you would expect! If you haven’t lived in the South, the movies Steel Magnolias or Fried Green Tomatoes might offer you some clues, but both pale in comparison with the reality.
I’m not sure what it is, but I have long suspected it has something to do with Southern cooking. In addition to grits, possibly the most noticeable aspect of Southern cooking is the idea that every food is improved by being fried. That concept even permeates Mexican food. Our favorite Mexican restaurant in Houston even served fried ice cream as a dessert!
As is true with most families, our family has forged its own traditions for most holidays. Irrespective of whether the holiday is secular or religious, we have traditions that are faithfully observed. Some are unique; others are common to our larger culture and society. Irrespective of all of that, I cannot imagine a Mother’s Day that would not include being in church at 10:00 am. Before I became a minister, that would not have precluded my dozing off while I was there, but I would be there. Now it is a bit harder to avoid being noticed when I doze off during the sermon.
I’m interpreting that wisp of Easter ‘grass’ I saw this morning as my own mother’s affirmation of my observance of tradition yesterday. It is also her acknowledgment that my parenting skills were adequate, since both of our own children were in church and both honored their own mother yesterday.
To the best of my knowledge, Israel did not have a Mother’s Day during Jesus’ lifetime. But, even the most cursory reading of the Bible should tell us the impact of mothers in scripture on their children. Luke especially captures the importance of Mary in the life of Jesus. The beginning of Luke’s gospel emphasizes how God chose Mary specifically to be the mother of Jesus. I have a strong suspicion as to why it was Jesus’ custom to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath and why he stood up to read.
I also don’t know what mothers used to line Easter baskets prior to the invention of plastic ‘grass.’ But, I am sure that since Eve raised her own 2 boys, mothers have carefully handed down family traditions and faithfully nurtured their sons and daughters. That does not ignore or dishonor the parenting influence of fathers; but, it acknowledges the impact of mothers. Parenting is vital in the formation of all of God’s children. Our earthly, biological parents reflect the love of our Creator God, the giver and guide of life itself. The impact of our parents, for good and/or evil, is immeasurable. Our own impact on our children, for good and/or evil, is immeasurable. Mothers, fathers, parenting, all are vital and not to be taken lightly . . . even to the extent of sending signs from eternity, wisps of Easter ‘grass’ tucked into corners of often swept floors.
Stay safe, interpret the signs carefully, trust God,
Pastor Ray