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    So many of us just take it for granted. We assume the things they do will be done because they always have been done. We trust they will be kind — Band-Aids for our skinned knees, kisses for our boo-boos, kind words of comfort when we are afraid, and everything planned when it’s time for us to have our party. We presume they will treat us with love and go out of their way to share their kindness with us because they have done so at many of the most important moments in our lives. We take for granted that our mothers will pay the price to be mothers. In fact, we assume it so much that we often don’t value it as we should.

    When the unthinkable happens — when we hear of a mother who is dangerous to her children, neglectful, hurtful, selfish, or abusive — we think to ourselves, “How could she?” We wonder out loud, “What’s going on with our world? Have we lost our morals and our minds?”

    But even in these moments of horror, we just assume, presume, and take for granted the cost that mothers willingly pay everyday day to give their children life. So many do it everyday, we just treat it as something we should expect rather than as something we should praise.

We assume it so much that we often don’t value it as we should.

    Yes, there are some less than good mothers. Yes, there are even some horrible mothers. Most of us who have grown up in Christian homes, however, have been blessed by a loving mother who would do almost anything to help us. If we weren’t blessed with a godly mother, as members of God’s family we are now given the opportunity to build relationships with older women in the faith who can be a mother to us, like Rufus’ mom was to the apostle Paul (Romans 16:13). These women of faith were often the first to teach us the truth of God in both word and example, paving the way for us to be open to the truth of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:13-17). We saw her watching us with that wistful twinkle in her eye as she gathered up each memory in her heart as if it were some precious gift, helping us know how special we are to her and to God (Luke 2:51). Many of these women have been indispensable in helping straighten up what was wrong in our Bible training (Acts 18:26) and in sharing the Gospel with our friends (Philippians 4:3). They have been invaluable servants in the church, both in helping others (Acts 9:32-39) and in leading us to serve others (Romans 16:1-2).

    Should we honor mothers more than one day a year? Most certainly! But we also need to make sure that their special day each year is VERY special — not so we can “pay our dues” to our mother until the next year rolls around, but so that we will be reminded of the incredible gift a godly woman, mother, and servant in Christ truly is. God reminded us long ago that “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who honors and reveres the Lord is to be praised.” He goes on to say, “Give her the reward she has earned and let her good works bring her praise in the most public of places.” (Proverbs 31:30-31).

    Let’s find a way to say, “Thanks mom, you’re the greatest! Thanks for all you are, all you’ve done, and all you’ve helped me to become. I thank God for you and I recognize you as one his greatest gifts to me!”