Family: Mother

Family: Mother

Please, Mommy, Remember
Remember...that I am a gift from God, the richest of all blessings. Do not attempt to mold me in your image, my daddy's, my brother's, or our neighbor's. I am an individual and should be permitted to be myself.
Remember...not to crush my spirit when I fail. Don't compare me with others who outshine me.
Remember...that anger and hostility are natural emotions. Help me to find outlets for these normal feelings-in play or physical exercise-or else they may be turned inward and may become much deeper and much more serious.
Remember...to discipline me with firmness and reason. Do not let your anger throw you off balance. If I know you are fair, you will not lose my respect or my love.
Remember...that each child needs two parents. When you side with me against Daddy, I have feelings of guilt, confusion and insecurity.
Remember...not to hand me everything my little heart desires. Otherwise I will never know the thrill of earning, the joy of deserving.
Remember...not to make threats in anger, or impossible promises when you are in a generous mood. To me your word means everything. When I can't believe in you and Dad, I have difficulty believing in anything.
Remember...that there is dignity in hard work, whether it is performed with calloused hands that shovel coal or skilled fingers that manipulate surgical instruments. Let me know that a useful life is a blessed one, and that a life of ease and pleasure-seeking is empty and meaningless.
Remember...not to try to protect me from every small blow and disappointment. Adversity strengthens character and makes us compassionate. Trouble is the great equalizer; let me learn it.
Remember...to teach me to love God and our fellow men. And, Mommy, please don't send me to worship service and Bible school-take me there.

Mothers: Our Greatest Teachers
"Do not forsake the law of your mother" (Proverbs 1:8).
The law of your mother-unwritten, but indelibly stamped upon your mind! It's the law of love, of kindness, of selflessness, of giving!
Motherhood-just think of its blessings, joys, sorrows, challenges and triumphs. There's no greater ecstasy than holding her newborn, and no greater anguish than the broken heart a child may cause. A mother's love is the nearest thing on earth to God's love.
The wisdom of God is exhibited in motherhood. We are not the by-product of some impersonal biological process. We were not made on an assembly line by the combination of chemicals. Our mothers nurtured us and formed an intimate relationship with us before we were born. She jeopardized her life for us. The greatest lessons we have ever learned have come from loving, caring, sacrificing mothers who were always available to us.
A woman's greatest, most fulfilling and far-reaching role is expressed in motherhood. LET US THANK GOD FOR CHRISTIAN MOTHERS! Let us be sensitive and grateful, not only on Mother's Day-but everyday for our mothers and the mother of our children. My Child
I do not ask that you repay
The hours of toil and pain.
The sacrifice of youth and strength
Shall not have been in vain.
I do not ask for gratitude,
But only this, my child;
That you shall live your life so well,
My gifts be not defiled.
The nights I watched beside your crib;
The years of love and care will amply be repaid;
If once I see you standing there,
An upright and honest soul,
On whom success has smiled,
That I may say with humble pride,
That's my child!

Mother-A Definition
A little girl's definition of "mother": "A mother is a person who takes care of her kids and gets their meals and if she is not there when you get home from school you wouldn't know how to get your meals and you wouldn't feel like eating them anyhow."

Appreciation to Mother
One father was such an undemonstrative man that the children used to worry, for he never seemed to show their mother proper appreciation for her gaiety and the many ways she made their shabby old house a real home. But one afternoon she stopped at a neighbor's house to help with a sick child and delayed getting back. The father arrived home from work as usual and walked into the living room, which the eight children were filling with lively commotion.
The father stood in the doorway frowning, as he was surveying the scene. "Where is everybody?" he demanded.
Those children never again worried that their mother was not appreciated.

Now or ?
The man stopped at the flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived 200 miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied: "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother, but I only have 75 cents and a rose costs $2.00.
The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I will buy you a rose for your mother." He placed his FTD order of flowers to his mother and bought a rose for the girl. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride.
She responded, "Yes, please, if you could. Take me to my mother," and she directed him to a cemetery where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.
The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up the flowers and drove the 200 miles to his mother's home.

Mothers Are Not Birds
My son found a bird's nest. It was empty. After just one season, the mother bird was finished with it. Next year she will build another. But I am glad human mothers are not like birds.
Did you know that if someone handles eggs in a wild bird's nest the bird may stop sitting on them? And, that if a mother bird has a defective chick she will shove it out of the nest and not allow it to grow up?
Thank God our mothers care for us, regardless of the many problems we have. They take care of us when we are hurt or sick. Like God, they love us even when we do wrong things.
A mother bird keeps busy feeding her young and protecting them. That is all she does, though. Think of how often our mothers have to be nurses, teachers, housekeepers, cooks, chauffeurs, counselors, and friends. With all we ask it is a wonder they don't push us out of the nest.
Baby birds are out of the nest in one season. The mother becomes free from caring for them. Our mothers are forever. They continue to do things for us even when we get older. They never stop caring for us. They pray for us. They become grandmothers and care for our children.
Mothers are a treasure. Take a moment to meditate on all that your mother has done for you. Be sure to honor and thank the mother God gave you. A Mother's Beatitude
Blessed is the mother who understands her child, for she shall inherit a kingdom of memories.
Blessed is the mother who knows how to comfort, for she shall possess a child's devotion.
Blessed is the mother who guides by the path of righteousness, for she shall be proud of her offspring.
Blessed is the mother who is never shocked, for she shall receive confidences.
Blessed is the mother who teaches respect, for she shall be respected.
Blessed is the mother who emphasizes the good and minimizes the bad, for in like manner the child shall make evaluations.
Blessed is the mother who treats her child as she would be treated, for her home shall be filled with happiness.
Blessed is the mother who answers simply the startling questions, for she shall always be trusted.
Blessed is the mother who has character strong enough to withstand the thoughtless remarks and resentments of the growing child, for again, in due time, she shall be honored.

Staying With the Baggage
A few years ago a lovely Christian mother gave her pastor criticism he deserved. He had preached a strong sermon on personal evangelism pointing out every Christian's obligation to reach out and win others to the Lord. In the conclusion of the sermon he tried to obliterate every excuse that anyone might have for failure to lead others to Christ. The sermon needed to be preached, of course, as it still does. Only apparently he had been guilty of some unfair emphasis.
After the sermon he was invited home with a lovely Christian family. The husband was completing his resident work as a medical doctor, and had little spare time, but still he spent time in the church's personal work program. The wife beautifully cared for their three lovely children. All of them were very young-one still an infant in arms-and required a lot of time.
During the meal the wife asked the pastor if he remembered the Scripture, "For as his share is who goes down into battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage" (1 Samuel 30:24). He confessed his ignorance, and she gave the context of King David insisting that the home guard be rewarded equally with those who had the more obviously essential role of fighting in the front line.
And then she shared a wonderful truth which is so easily forgotten. She mentioned that she felt that taking care of children, patiently teaching them the ways of God and His great values, looking for moments of readiness to deflect them gently when they get on the wrong track was "staying with the baggage." She went on to point out that she often felt guilty for not doing more of the "church" work than she did. But she felt her greatest ministry was being a dedicated Christian mother.
My friend, all you need to say after listening to a needed reprimand like that is one word-Amen.

What Mothers Ought To Teach Their Children
At a banquet, the mother of George Washington was sitting beside a distinguished French officer. Turning to Washington's mother, the officer asked, "How have you managed to rear such a splendid son?"
She replied, "I taught him to obey."
Too many people have a strong "will" and a weak "won't."

Mother's Share
Professor William James, Harvard's famous psychologist and the author of that well-known book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, said: "A teacher asked a boy this question on fractions: 'Suppose that your mother baked an apple pie, and there were seven of you-your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get?' 'A sixth, ma'am,' the boy answered. 'But there are seven of you,' said the teacher. 'Don't you know anything about fractions?' 'Yes, teacher,' replied the boy, 'I know all about fractions, but I know all about Mother, too. Mother would say she did not want any pie!' " The Obedient Son
A distinguished French officer asked Washington's mother how she managed to rear such a splendid son. She replied, "I taught him to obey." A Mansion Near the Throne!
Ian MacLaren, that great preacher of the Word of God, once visited a home and found an old Scotch woman standing in her kitchen, weeping. She wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron, and when the minister asked her what was the matter, she confessed, "I have done so little. I am so miserable and unhappy." "Why?" asked MacLaren. "Because I have done so little for Jesus. When I was just a wee girl, the Lord spoke to my heart, and I did want so much to live for Him." "Well, haven't you?" asked the minister. "Yes, I have lived for Him, but I have done so little. I want to be of some use in His service." "What have you done?" "Nothing. I have washed dishes, cooked three meals a day, taken care of the children, mopped the floor, and mended the clothes. That is all I have done all my life, and I wanted to do somthing for Jesus." The preacher, sitting back in the armchair, looked at her and smiled. "Where are your boys?" he inquired. She had four sons and had named them after Bible personalities. "Oh, my boys? You know where Mark is. You ordained him yourself before he went to China. Why are you asking? He is there preaching for the Lord." "Where is Luke?" questioned the minister. "Luke? He went out from your own church. Didn't you send him out? I had a letter from him the other day." Then she became happy and excited as she continued. "A revival has broken out on the mission station, and he said they were having a wonderful time in the service of the Lord!" "Where is Matthew?" "He is with his brother in China. Isn't it fine that the two boys can be working together? I am so happy about that. John came to me the other night-he is my baby and is only nineteen, but he is a great boy. He said, 'Mother, I have been praying and, tonight in my room, the Lord spoke to my heart about going to help my brother in Africa! But don't you cry, Mother. The Lord told me I was to stay here and look after you until you go home to glory.' " The minister looked at her: "And you say your life has been wasted in mopping floors, darning socks, washing dishes, and doing the trivial tasks. I'd like to have your mansion when we are called home! It will be very near the throne." A Mother Rebuked
Are all your thoughts for this life and none for eternity? A young lady of twenty, a child of rich parents, was trained by her mother in all the arts of fashionable life. The daughter was happy amid the flatteries of her admirers, and the mother's pride was satisfied. Soon sickness came, and the minister was called in. He talked of death, judgment, and eternity, and the young lady trembled. In her dying hour, she called for her fine clothes. They were brought; looking up to her mother, she said, "These have ruined me. You never told me I must die. You taught me that my life in this world was to be happy and to enjoy the vanities of life. What could you mean? You knew I must die and go to judgment. You never told me to read the Bible or go to church unless to make a display of some new clothing. Mother, you have ruined me." A few moments later, she died. The Disappointed Mother
A widow whose children had left her one by one to go to the "new country" (as she called it) heard each of them promise to save money and to send for her "very soon." Time passed; the children married and had children, but no mention came of sending for the old mother. She longed to see them, but thinking they lacked the means, she saved up enough money herself to pay them a surprise visit. But, her reception was the reverse of what she had fondly anticipated. Her children, who had prospered, seemed annoyed at their mother's coming, criticized her old-fashioned dress and speech, and had no room for her. The disappointed woman came back and entered a home for the aged, where she proved a blessing to all about her, shedding on those around her the love that her own children had rejected. No bitterness remained in the heart of the aged saint. "It seems to me that I knew what our Lord suffered," she told a friend, "when He came to His own dear people and they gave Him the cold shoulder. Just think! He came unto His own and His own received Him not! I can understand how that wounded His loving heart." Yet she could praise God for the experience since it drew her closer to her Savior and made her more compassionate toward others.

Christ in a College Dorm
A university student who had filled his wall with indecent pictures received an unexpected visit from his mother. She never said a word about them or gave any indication she had noticed them. But before she left she hung a picture of Christ in the middle of the other pictures. When she visited him again, the only picture hanging on the wall was Christ's. God had radically changed her son's heart.

Mystery of Love
A young man who was tired of the monotony and the restrictions of home decided to leave, to go to a place where he could wander and be free. He got fed up with that, however, as he realized it was not what he had dreamed it would be. He decided to write to his mother and tell her that he was going to take the train back home. He told her that if she still wanted him, she should hang a white handkerchief on top of the tree in their yard which could easily be seen before the train stopped at the little home-town station. How amazed the wandering young man was when he found that his mother had used every available handkerchief to hang on the various branches of the tree. He could not understand how his mother could continue to love him. It was a mystery to him that his mother's love had increased instead of diminished. It is so with the love of God for the wandering child.