“The sayings of King Lemuel – the utterance which his mother taught him:” Proverbs 31:1
This is the time of year when we remember our mothers! If you had a wise mother, she would have taught you to brush your teeth, comb your hair, say “yes, please” and “no, thank you,” be kind to others and animals, say your prayers and given a host of other instructions! In pondering my own mother, I had to search back in my memory bank and think of the earliest lessons she taught me. My mother went to be with the Lord when I was 16, so whatever she taught me was learned before that time.
As a 4 year old, I played with a neighbor boy who was 5. One day, he got the idea to steal lemons from the neighbors lemon tree! I really didn’t like lemons, but I went along with the plan. We stored the lemons in a basket and hid them under the porch. Little did I know that someone beside God was watching us, the neighbor who owned the tree told my mother and we got in trouble! The things my mother taught me: if you steal, you have to lie to cover up! If your friend does something wrong, does that give you license to do the same? And what about “a person is known by the company he keeps!” Lessons can be learned by four year olds that stay with them! Don’t give up moms, persevere with your children, pray mightily and teach them God’s Word.
When I was 7 years old, I liked to help mother in the kitchen. We were making “cole slaw” and it was my job to mix the mayonnaise and milk together to make the dressing. The phone rang, as mother went to answer it, I looked at the mayonnaise in the cup and thought it might be nice to take a taste. Soon, half the dressing was gone! Mother returned and asked, “Did you eat the mayonnaise?” “No,” I replied. In my little mind, I thought if I lied enough and kept repeating my lie, everyone would believe me! In fact, I might even believe it myself! Mother smelled it on my breath, and saw the remains on my face, so I was busted! I was again in trouble, but it was one of the best lessons I learned in telling the truth. The things my mother taught me: No lie is worth the guilty conscience and separation from your loved ones that lying brings. Keep short accounts with God! When you sin, you hurt your parents, but most of all you bring dishonor to God.
Another lesson my mother taught me: to forgive people for the wrongs they do to you. I had 3 sisters and girls are easily hurt by others. We had an argument with girlfriends and they didn’t invite us to their birthday party. Since they lived next door, we watched in dismay as other girls enjoyed the party but not us! My mother told us to “heap coals of fire on her head,” as it says in Romans 12:20. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” “You girls should buy her a nice present and take it to her after the party. That would be ‘heaping coals of fire’ on her,” mother said. “In other words, do something really nice to her in return. Don’t reward evil for evil.” We did that and the hard feelings melted away. It was a lesson in forgiveness I never forgot. “”Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone,” Romans 12:17-18.
My mother suffered from an aggressive form of cancer and the Lord took her home at the age of 44. It was said of her that “she preached her own funeral,” with the verse, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s,” Romans 14:8
If you have a mom who prays for you, God will give her special wisdom to teach you and guide you until you are able to make decisions on your own. Be sure and thank her this Mother’s Day!
Your friend, Jean