Enjoy this wonderful true story about a Mother’s Day never-to-be-forgotten memory (author: Lawrence Brotherton).
(It was) Mothers Day in Georgia in 1970. I had just retired from the Air Force and was in Milledgeville attending Georgia College.
That Mother’s Day Sunday, my family and I were at Molesville Baptist Church waiting for the preacher to begin when I looked around noticing our 12-year-old son was absent. My wife and I looked at each other with questioning eyes, thinking he was probably outside playing with his friends.
Ten or fifteen minutes later the choir was singing and still no son. Thirty minutes later the preacher was well into his sermon and still no son. I knew in my heart of hearts the only thing wrong was his priorities, which as soon as we came face-to-face again, I would direct him into knowing what was important and what was not important.
Since we only lived about a block from the church, all through the sermon I was thinking he had gone home to watch television. I knew when I found him, he would either not be able to sit down for a week or be interested in watching television.
As soon as the preacher said the benediction and without staying to shake hands with fellow worshippers, my wife and I rushed for the door and on our way home. With anger building with every step I took toward the house, I imagined what I would say and what I would do as soon as we found him.
With all that tension and anxiety building, can you imagine our surprise when we walked into the house and found him sitting on the sofa waiting for us with a smile. I was just about to let it all out, when without saying a word he stood, took his mother by the hand, and led her into the kitchen.
There before us was a beautiful table of food (that) our twelve-year-old son had prepared for my wife as his Mother’s Day gift for his mom, with his smile as a garnish for the meal.
Later, we learned he left immediately after Sunday School to rush home to have it prepared for his Mom when she returned after the preaching.
Isn’t this the way God is sometimes? We look at our circumstances and wonder at how bad we think things are. Then, when we see God’s outcome, we can only bow our humble heads in amazement at how things turned out for our good and His glory!
Anna Maria Jarvis (1864-1948) was the founder of Mother’s Day in the United States. Her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis (a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers from both sides during the Civil War), had frequently expressed a desire to establish such a holiday. On May 10, 1908, three years after her mother’s death, Jarvis held a memorial ceremony to honor her mother and all mothers at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church…in Grafton, West Virginia, marking the first official observance of Mother’s Day (credit: Wikipedia) and the celebration continues.
Proverbs 31:28-30 declares, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting (vain); but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Moms, thank you for your faithfulness in making a Huge difference. We bless you and thank the Lord for you!
This Sunday, May 12, we will celebrate Mother’s Day. My wife Shirley will preach the Word and a gift will be given to all women. Please invite someone to join you at 10:35am in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (HonoluluAG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us. (The 9:30am Adult Bible Class will also focus on the value of mothers.)
Coming Up: Pentecost Sunday is the following Sunday, May 19. Surr & Hailey Vang will share with us that day about their ministry with Chi Alpha Hawaii, the Christian outreach to the UH at Manoa. After the service, we will all enjoy an ono-licious potluck Fellowship Lunch. Please bring your favorite foods to add to the table.
Aloha ke Akua!