Jarvis kept on promoting the holiday until President Woodrow Wilson made it an official national holiday in 1914. Over time, the holiday eventually became so highly commercialized that Jarvis considered it a "Hallmark holiday." To her, it became so much so, that she actually ended up opposing the holiday she helped birth until her death in 1948. Despite that unfortunate turn of events, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and candy. And again, it remains the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls. But interestingly it also boosts the highest church attendance, behind Christmas Eve and Easter.
The Bible is not silent on the role or value of mothers. The fierce love for their children can be seen in several Biblical stories starting with the sacrificial saving and protecting of Moses by his mother in Exodus, chapter two. Then too, we find the incredible display of love through the story of the woman willing to give up her child to a lying woman, claiming to be the baby’s mom, rather than allow Solomon’s clever solution to settle the matter by literally dividing the child in two by the sword.
The last chapter in Proverbs also describes some of the admirable traits of a godly woman and mother. Verse 15 speaks of her tireless dedication: “She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household.” Then in verses 26-31 of chapter thirty-one we read, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her. Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.”The Scriptures also speak quite firmly about the importance of honoring and obeying one’s mother and father as well. Doing so is even spoken of in the context of the length and quality of one’s individual life on earth. Back in Deuteronomy 5:16, the writer declares, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” The same is repeated in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. In chapter six he repeats, "Honor your father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:2-3)
I had the blessing of a godly mom. She was the one who primarily prayed for my salvation and led me to the Savior through her words and deeds. Her life was one of obedience and service to her Lord. But her life on earth ended just 3 days before this past Christmas. I have no opportunity now to simply say, ‘thank you’ for your love, input and influence in my life. Those words will have to wait until we again meet in heaven. But if your mother is still in this life, do take the opportunity to honor her this week and every week. And if she has gone on ahead, then thank God for her impact and sacrifice on your behalf.
And if you are a mother today, ask God to make you a Christ-like one and thereby become another example of Proverbs 31. Faithfully serve your Savior by raising the precious gifts He has given you in the fear and admonition of the Lord. When all is said and done, nothing can be more important than the spiritual training, your children’s eternal destiny, and being able to embrace the words in 3 John 4. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Thanks Mom!
Bill Breckenridge
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