Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.     1 Corinthians 13:4-8 HCSB

This weekend is a time to honor our mothers. Our Scripture passage for today is one that as I read it, I realize it describes the love I received from my mom. I am blessed each day that I am still able to see her lovely smile. I think about how patient she had to be to raise me. I wasn’t always that easy to deal with, just sayin’. I never recall my mom being envious of others, being prideful or boastful or conceited. I never saw her exhibit any inappropriate behavior. My mom loved to shop but found more joy in buying for others than for herself. She could never be called selfish. Lord knows my behavior provoked her to the point of anger at times. She didn’t back down from disciplining me. She never told me anything like, “Just wait till your dad gets home.” My mom was perfectly capable of handling business when it was needed. She was a woman of God’s word and believed in Proverbs 13:24 which says, “The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.” She applied this to her daughters as well.

I am grateful that she never kept a record of my wrongs, as there were many. She had me in church every time the doors were open from my first memory of the nursery at the church where I grew up. I was taught that we put God first in our lives. I was taught to pray from an early age. I was taught to tithe at an early age. She worked full time, took care of two elderly parents and our household, raised her children and loved keeping her grandchildren but she always had time to teach us how to live according to God’s word. She always provided an example of God’s love and godly living. I know I broke her heart when she saw unrighteousness in me, but she always rejoiced with me when I did well.

I am happy to say I have a mother-in-law that fits this same description. So, this weekend I will celebrate these two women and what they mean to me and our families. They both adhered to Proverbs 22:6 which says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I thank God for that.

Proverbs 31 also describes her in verses 10-31. I will share verses 24-27 with you which say, “Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.”  My grandma used to always say, “Idle hands are the devil’s workplace.” I can assure you neither my mom nor my mother-in-law have ever been idle.

This weekend whether you are celebrating with your mom, celebrating the mom that has passed away, are being celebrated as a mom or being celebrated as someone who simply cares for others as a mom would do, I pray that you have peace and joy. I pray that God blesses this weekend and this time with loved ones.

Even though I had an awesome example of what a mom should be I never chose to be a mother. But God has blessed me with wonderful nieces and nephews, a wonderful stepson and daughter-in-law and I pray with grandchildren in the future.

I do my best to show them the love that I learned from my mom. She taught me how to love as God loves. I encourage you to re-read our Scripture passage today. God wants us to give that kind of love. So, whether you are a mother, a brother, a sister, a stepmom, adoptive mom or even a doggie mom, I encourage you to show God’s love to others.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37-39 that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. He also tells us we are to love others as we love ourselves. I was blessed through my parents and grandparents and in-laws to see that love in action. I pray that you are showing that love to others today.

Have a wonderful and blessed Mother’s Day!