Mothers Day

MOTHER'S DAY

One of the comics that I used to love reading was Calvin and Hobbes. I remember the one were Calvin is standing by his mother’s bed on Mother’s Day and he says, “Hey, Mom! Wake up. I made you a Mother’s Day card.” His mother was very pleased and started to read it out loud. “I was going to buy a card with hearts of pink and red. But then I thought I’d rather spend the money on me instead. It’s awfully hard to buy things when one’s allowance is so small. So I guess you’re plenty lucky I got you anything at all. Happy Mother’s Day to you. There, I said it. Now I’m done. So how about getting out of bed and cooking breakfast for your son.” He adds, “did you notice the part about my allowance?”

Today is Mothers Day. It was back in 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson by an act of Congress, proclaimed that the second Sunday in May would be set aside for Mother’s Day. He declared it as, “a day for the public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” It has been said that, “no nation is ever greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of the next generation.”

Matt 20:20-21 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 What is it you want? he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

Mrs. Zebedee was aware of the teachings of Jesus about His kingdom. She was also very aware of the fact that her sons, James & John, were very close to Him. Jesus had an inner circle - Peter, James and John. Her sons made up two thirds of that circle. Knowing how close Jesus was to her sons she also wondered what would happen to them when Jesus established His kingdom.

Perhaps she was there when Jesus told the story at the beginning of this chapter about the landowner who went out to find laborers for his field. The men hired first were paid the exact same as those who were hired last. Perhaps this had caused her to wonder, "Will my sons really have positions of authority in the new kingdom that Jesus will establish?"

When the opportunity presented itself she came to Jesus and bowed before Him and made her request that her sons would sit in places of authority and honor. It would be easy to criticize Mrs. Zebedee for being so bold. We know from the story that Jesus tells her that her request was impossible, that it was the Father who determined who would be seated there. However, I think that her request shows us three important truths that we need to remember.

1. She wanted her kids to be Part of the Kingdom

Good and godly mothers want to see their children saved. They want to see them receive Jesus as Lord and savior. I think for most of us as parents, this is the most important thing we want for our kids. Yes we want them to be happy in life and get good grades in school and get married to someone who loves them. These are all good things, but I would rather have them go without any of these and be saved then have everything in the world except a relationship with Jesus.

When we first moved to Kuwait I was the Youth Pastor. I was the first youth pastor the church had ever had, so I had to develop the youth ministry from scratch. One of the obstacles I had was the parents, especially of the Indian kids. They felt that their kids should be taking tuitions instead of going to youth group on Thursday nights. I remember having a conversation with one of the parents and I asked them, “would you rather have a child with an A+ average who does not love Jesus or a child with an A average who does?” What is ultimately most important?

My grandfather (George Sheane) was the only son in his family. On my dad’s side of the family, my brother and I are the only Sheanes that have had children, and all of them have been girls. We know that the Sheane family name will die with us. That does not bother me at all. I am much more concerned that my children bear their heavenly father’s name than their earthly fathers name. I am more concerned with passing on to them a heritage of faith than a name.

Godly mothers want their kids to receive Jesus because they know that it is the most important decision that they will ever make. They understand the verse that says;