From 1962 to 1970, my family lived in Victoria, Texas. There is a
wonderful church there, the Central Church of Christ. We were very
involved in that little community of faith. We were in Bible class
on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. We went to Sunday night
worship and Vacation Bible School. We were in the big middle of
nearly everything that was going on.
I was a rather energetic child (understatement). It was difficult
for me to sit still (impossible) and I was a bit of a challenge (a
real PAIN) to the women who were trying to teach me in Sunday
school.
When I was six, one Sunday morning (so I’m told) I was more of a
challenge (a bigger PAIN) than usual. The Sunday school teacher
threatened to take me to my parents (a fate worse than death) if I
didn’t “simmer down.”
My response?
I calmly informed her that, “My daddy’s out of town and I don’t
have to mind my mother.” I’m sure this sounded good to me at the
time. I am also sure it was proven to be false about three minutes
after the words left my impertinent little mouth.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. My mother should get a medal. I was
ADHD before there was such a thing. I think I helped invent it.
But this Sunday she won’t get a medal. She’ll get the traditional
corsage, a Mother’s Day telephone call and the usual card which
I’ll sign, “I love you — and I’m sorry.”
|
Like all holidays, Mother’s Day is bittersweet.
|
Like all holidays, Mother’s Day is bittersweet. Many will
celebrate with gifts and cards, honoring and thanking their
mothers for all she has done for them. But for some, Mother’s Day
is a day to be endured. It brings back memories of a dysfunctional
home and unhealthy parenting styles.
If you are part of the second group, the enduring group, I’m
praying for you. My prayer is that God has placed another person
in your life who can bless you. I pray that your anger and your
pain will be healed. I pray that you are part of a healthy
community of faith where you can minister and be ministered to. I
pray that, through the grace of God, your difficult beginnings
won’t hamper your ability to have intimate relationships. I pray
that God will give you a deeper sense of his love for you, that you
will see yourself as a valued, adopted son or daughter of the
Creator of the universe - someone whom he considered worth dying
for.
If you are in the first group, the celebrating group, I want to
remind you of something. You are the recipient of the greatest
earthly blessing there is, the blessing of being born into a loving
and nurturing family. You have a leg up on the rest of the world.
You are who you are because of this wonderful blessing. No
possession is more valuable than the fact that you can celebrate
Mother’s Day. If you were loved, you learned how to love. If you
were secure, you learned how to trust. If you were taught about
God, you learned how to have faith.
My prayer for you is that you will never take your blessedness for
granted, that you will never stop being thankful, and that you will
pass this most precious of blessings on to your family and friends.
Happy Mother’s Day - and mother, if you’re reading this, I love you
- and I’m sorry.
I Love You — and I’m Sorry