May 08th, 2024

May 8, 2024

I trust that you are aware that this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. Some would argue that every day ought to be Mother’s Day, considering all moms do to make their families function. I can’t disagree with that opinion. I know that in my experience, both as a son and father, the two households I have known were and are far better places because of the influence of good mothers.

Not to discount my role as a father, I still have to admit that my two children are better people for the mother God blessed them with. While I did my best to offer our kids counsel and encouragement, it was my wife, Judy, who did the most nurturing and instructing, as well as the most worrying and watching. I came to see how the fallback response of all fathers – “Go ask your mother” – is actually nothing more than a public profession of how, contrary to the old saying, “Mothers usually know best.”

One thing is certain: mothers are great influencers. Who among us has not found himself or herself saying something or seeing something along the lines of what we learned from our mothers? Clearly, we develop into responsible adults in large measure through the efforts of faithful mothers.​

So, if we still have them, our mothers deserve all the praise and gratitude we can heap upon them. And if we don’t, I think it’s still important that we acknowledge the great debt that we owe them. You may have many role models in your life. But chances are that there are none more critical than the mother God gave you. Keep that in mind not just this Sunday, but also everyday of your life and you will do well, just like mom wanted you to do.