Mother's Day 2016

Mother’s Day 2016

Luke 2:41-52

When my daughter was a little girl she used to want me to read to her at every opportunity. One of her favorite little books was called “Are you My Mother”?

Some of you may own a copy of this charming little book by Philip Dey Eastman.

Source: P.D. Eastman and published in 1960 by Random House.

Summary of Plot Intro:

It is the story about a mother bird who knows her egg will be in her nest where she left it, so she leaves him alone to go and get something for him to eat. The baby bird hatches while she is away. He does not understand where his mother is so he goes to look for her.

In his search, he asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow if they are his mother. They each say, no.

Then he sees an old car, which cannot be his mother for sure. In desperation, the hatchling calls out to a boat and a plane, and at last, convinced he has found his mother, he climbs onto the teeth of an enormous power shovel. But he is betrayed by the loud snort of the exhaust, as it shudders and grinds into motion. He can't escape.

I want my mother! He shouts.

But at this climactic moment, his fate is suddenly reversed. The shovel drops him back in his nest, just as his mother is returning home, and the two are reunited, much to their delight. He then tells his mother about the adventure he had looking for her. Source: Wikipedia

A little bit about the author of this book because I’m sure his mother is proud of him and would like you to know about his success.

Philip Dey Eastman is probably more famous for his little children's books than for his other contributions. Source Wikipedia

Eastman worked at the story department of Walt Disney Productions and Warner Bros. Cartoons and gave us the animated figure we know as Mr. Magoo. Well some of us still know who Mr. Magoo is. Philip Dey Eastman author, illustrator, and filmmaker, worked so closely with Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) that he is sometimes mistaken for him. But their mothers could always tell them apart.

Message:

This little story put Mothers Day into perspective for me as I related it to the scripture where Jesus is left behind when the family had visited Jerusalem. Both Joseph and Mary thought Jesus was with the company of family members but not so. Mothers carry a special burden for their children. We call it a maternal instinct as a child I called it a sixth sense. Mothers seem to know intuitively when their children are in trouble or making trouble or are dealing with a trial be it emotional, academic, or spiritual. Moms just seem to know what we are thinking. Scary isn’t it?

But in the scripture passage today we find that Mary is astonished at what she finds Jesus doing. I also find it interesting to see that it is Mary and not Joseph who is correcting Jesus for wandering off. Moms have a way of disciplining in love that really gets to our hearts. The tone of voice, the look in her eyes, the hand gesture all in love.

It is Jesus answer to Mary’s question that causes Mary to realize her little boy is indeed that special little boy that God promised He would be. She explains how anxious they all were as they looked for the missing Jesus. Jesus in reply told her plainly in Luke 2:49

49 Why were you searching for me? He asked. Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?

Just like P.D. Eastman's story of the little bird that wandered off Jesus wandered off but for a very different reason. Jesus had come to realize who he was and where he needed to be. Mary treasured this in her heart as she realized that Jesus had reached an age when he no longer relied on his earthly parents but would follow the path his Heavenly Father had laid out for him.

How many mothers here are like Mary? How many mothers here would gladly trade their concern for a child that they think is lost for the peace of knowing that their child has found their place with their Heavenly Father? Is this not one of the greatest accomplishments of a mother to lovingly care and raise their child to know the Lord?

That assurance is a better reward than any lead role in an elementary school play or sports trophy they could win. That blessing is better than any academic achievement or scholarship that they could earn. Such salvation is even better than seeing your child marry that special someone in their lives. Did I take it too far? You get the point.