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May 9, 2009
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Mother's Day in Retrospect, by Russ Lawson
They say -- whoever "they" are -- that confession is good for the soul,
so maybe it's time for me to reveal that I have not always been the
wonderful, considerate husband that I now am! (Don't laugh too hard!)
As I look back on past Mother's Day weekends, I realize that I really
blew it sometimes. The first years of our marriage, Mother's Day rolled
around and I reasoned that Melody was my wife -- not my mother -- so I
didn't get her anything to recognize the day as special.
The next year, however, I had learned my lesson. I had discovered the
hard way, that my wife was indeed a mother, and that I needed to
recognize that fact. I thought about it for awhile, and came home with
the perfect gift (I thought), a rubber tree plant. Melody was not
impressed! Kirk (9 months old) liked it better than she did. He
proceeded to pull all of the leaves off of it in the following weeks.
I still didn't understand why Melody wasn't impressed with my
thoughtfulness, but eventually, somewhere along the past 41 years, I
figured it out. I don't make those foolish mistakes as often now. Now,
when I suggest doing something special to celebrate Mother's Day she
says, "It's not necessary. Our boys will make it special for me!" I've
wondered if it could be she just doesn't want to take a chance on
another rubber tree plant!
This is one special day that I am in favor of celebrating!
Guys, just in case you need some help, jewelry, perfume, clothing,
thoughtful cards, a nice meal, or a visit to some place special to her
are appreciated by the mothers in your life -- whether they are your
mother or the mother of your children! Rubber tree plants, tools, and
oil changes are not usually seen as something very personal or
appreciative for one who carried you for 9 months in her body and gave
you life!
The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, penned these words:
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for
this is the right thing to do. 'Honor your father and mother.' This
is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise (Ephesians
6:1-2 NLT).
Mother's Day is a national holiday, not a religious one. But, this is
one special day that I am in favor of celebrating. It's a small way to
honor our mothers and recognize all they has given us in our lives. I
realize that not everyone has "the perfect mother," but if the
opportunity presents itself, bless yourself by doing something good and
positive for your mother anyway.
While some of you moms might be thrilled to get even a rubber tree
plant, I pray that you all will get what you really need in the way of
love and recognition for the role in which God has placed you!
---------
(c) 2009 Russ Lawson <rlawson@wclo.net>, Messages from the Heart
<http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* A Mother's Day Surprise
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200405/20040509_surprise.html
* Mother's Day
http://www.heartlight.org/feature/sf_990505_mothersday.html
* Mother's Day
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200105/20010513_mothersday.html
* Messages from the Heart
http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200905/20090509_retrospect.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
HOUSE, by Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker
Best-selling authors Peretti and Dekker join forces for an
adrenaline-laced thriller!
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
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