Summary: Ways to Love the Mother’s in Your life 1. Love Her Verbally Esp. men have the philosophy—I don’t have to say I love you, you already know it. I have told you before, if I change my mind I’ll let you know! Or, I SHOW love, not just say it…and that may be true, but a woman needs to hear those words, “I Love You!” Children need to hear it…and saying it makes you more of a man, not less! And spouses need to hear it too… DEAR ABBY: I enlisted shortly after Pearl Harbor. Thirty-six days later, I was on my way to the Philippines. En route, the Philippines fell to the Japanese, and we were routed to Australia. Eleven days after we landed, I met the most beautiful girl in the world. On our first date, I told her I was going to marry her. I did, 18 months later, while on a 10-day R-and-R leave from New Guinea. After more than 57 years of marriage and two children, my beloved "Mary" died five days before Christmas. Although we agreed that our ashes were to be scattered over the mountains, I found I could not part with hers. While Mary was alive, she would frequently say, "You don’t know how much I love you." I’d reply, "Likewise." I never said, "I love you." Now her ashes are on my dresser, where I tell her several times a day how much I love her, but it’s too late. Although I wrote poetry to her, I could not bring myself to say the three words I knew she wanted most to hear. As my dearest was dying and we thought she was comatose, I told her, "There aren’t enough words to tell you how much I love you." A few hours later, she whispered, "Not enough words" and died. The reason I’m writing is to urge men to express their feelings while their loved ones are alive. I don’t know why, but many men are reluctant to express the depth of their feelings. -- MISSING MARY IN COLORADO Our spouses need to hear it, our children…our mothers also! Some men would say, I’m just not turned that way…then turn around! “I’m just not comfortable”…then be uncomfortable! 2. Love Her in Her language Talk in their mother tongue: Quality time? Meaningful Touch? Gifts? Acts of Service? Words of Affirmation? Fill in the blank. “I Feel most loved when ______________________” 3. Love her patiently. Mothers have an incredible job w/ no pay. No position in the business world compares to the physical, emotional, and spiritual commitment she has in motherhood. Don’t ever make the mistake of asking a lady, Do you work, or stay at home? The only thing worse you can ask is when she’s due if you’re not 100% sure she’s expecting! And many ladies today have to work on top of the full time job they already have. Here’s the point, in spite of all she does for us, we often become impatient with her…we get so used to her taking care of things we come to expect it and are outraged that “those clothes are still dirty?” / that’s not ironed? / you’re out of my favorite cookies? / you know I like that over rice, where is it? She’s picking you up at school because you don’t like to ride the bus, but she’s scolded for being 5 minutes late! Love her patiently. Because she’s tender to your needs is no reason to take advantage of her, it’s reason to be patient and to love her all the more! Teens & Jr.Highers, Middle Schoolers: it is unfair for you to be more kind, considerate, patient w/ your friends and your friend’s mothers than your own mother! If you treated your friends like you treat your mom you wouldn’t have friends, and if you treated their mom like you do yours their mom wouldn’t let their kid have anything to do with you! Your mom deserves better…she’s not a rug to wipe every negative thought on! Letter from 80 yr. old woman on her birthday: To all my children: I suppose my upcoming birthday started my thoughts along these lines...This is a good time to tell you that what I truly want are things I can never get enough of, yet they are free. I want the intangibles. I would like for you to come and sit with me, and for you to be relaxed. We can talk, or we can be silent. I would just like for us to be together. I need your patience when I don’t hear what you say the first time. I know how tiresome it is to always be repeating, but sometimes I must ask you to repeat. I need your patience when I think too much about the past, with my slowness and my set ways. I want you to be tolerant with what the years have done to me physically. Please be understanding about my personal care habits. I spill things. I lose things. I get unduly excited when I try to figure out my bank statements. I can’t remember what time to take my medication, or if I took it already. I take too many naps. Sometimes sleep helps to pass the day. Well, there you have it: Time, Patience, and Understanding. Those are priceless gifts that I want. Finally, in his letter, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I know I can, too! It’s a wonderful feeling to know His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me. I guess being old isn’t so bad after all! Love, Mom 4. Love her honorably. Exodus 20:12 12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you. This is binding as long as your mother lives. Another command says children, obey…non-binding when you leave home, but “honor” is different! If the husband is the head of the home, then the mother is the heart...don’t break her heart! “Yeah, but my mother wasn’t honorable!” Well, the Bible says nothing about that qualification…it only asks, is she your mother! By the way, it’s the only one of the 10 commandments which includes a built-in promise of blessing! Do you live in such a way that your mom is proud of you? Nothing honors your mother so much as seeing you and your children as godly believers, fully devoted to Jesus Christ. Show her that the seeds of love she has planted in you have resulted in a wonderful harvest for the kingdom of God. 5. Love Her with Forgiveness Eph.4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. The truth is, there’s never a legitimate reason to hold a grudge against your mom. If you ever begin to feel angry over some past hurt, remember how many times both she and God have forgiven you. Think about all the sacrifices she has made for you, and show her forgiveness and compassion. There is no perfect mom and there never will be. Forgive as You have been forgiven.
