May 7, 2014
Hats Off to Moms!
Sharon Jaynes
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Sharon will have several devotions devoted to moms!
Today’s Truth
Her children arise and call her blessed…(Proverbs 31:28, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Along the coast of North Carolina there are seven stately lighthouses that stand as sentinels on our rugged shoreline. A mother whose children rise up and call her blessed is much like those stately lighthouses. She has a solid foundation in Jesus Christ. Her walls of faith are constructed to withstand the storms of life, and her primary function is to house the light of Christ. This mother is an immovable constant in her child’s life, a landmark along life’s journey, and a guiding light that points her children to the safe harbor of home and eventually out to sea.
My Grandma Edwards was a constant in my life. From my earliest remembrance, she never seemed to change. She was always old, wore funny baggy underwear and an equally unattractive undershirt to match, and styled her gray hair in a long braid that wound around her head like a crown.
She loved to watch Perry Mason, eat peanut butter crackers, and drink Coca-Cola from chilled glass bottles. She never drove a car or frequented a shopping mall, but spent her days gardening, canning, and sewing.
Mothers and grandmothers no longer spend their days like my Grandma Edwards. They are on the go with schedules that would make the best air traffic controller’s head spin.
Recently I attended a barbecue dinner with 500 tourists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Across from me sat a family of four from Atlanta, Georgia: a dad, mom, and two little girls, ages 8 and 10. We all introduced ourselves and began the friendly banter of “Do you know so-and-so?” and “What do you do?”
At one point in the conversation, someone asked Mary what she “did” in Atlanta? With downcast eyes, she shrugged and said, “Oh, I’m just a mom. I don’t have a job.”
Immediately the hair bristled on the back of my neck and sirens and lights went off in my head.
“Just” a mom! How could she say such a thing? I assured Mary that she had the most important job in all creation: to create order out of chaos, ensure the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of her two little girls, and shape the individuals who will contribute to what we are as a community and a nation.
I don’t think Mary will ever use the words “just” and “mom” in the same sentence again.
Let’s unpack that little word “mom.” What exactly is her job description?
She’s a wife, mother, friend, housekeeper, interior decorator, laundress, gourmet chef, short-order cook, chauffeur, painter, wallpaper hanger, seamstress, nurse, guidance counselor, internal affairs CEO, financial planner, travel agent, administrative assistant, disciplinarian, preacher, teacher, tutor, spiritual advisor, dietician, lecturer, librarian, fashion coordinator, private investigator, cheerleader, manicurist, pedicurist, landscaper, hair stylist, psychologist, plumber, computer programmer, automobile maintenance expert, referee, and gift purchasing agent for both sides of the family. She may not get a salary, but the fringe benefits are invaluable: hugs, kisses, and buckets of love. And hopefully, one day a child who will call her blessed.
Even though a mom changes hats from one minute to the next, she can assure her children that her love never changes, her support never tires, and her commitment to being a beacon remains unmoved. In that way, we can still be like my Grandma Edwards.
This Mother’s Day, my hat`s off to moms! Thanks for all you do to raise the next generation for Jesus.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the privilege of being a mom. I pray that you will help me be a beacon that shines the light of Christ to my children as well as the children that I come in contact with through the course of a day. You are the Light of the World and I pray that I will be a shining reflection of that light today.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Can you think of a woman who was a shining beacon for Christ in your life? It may or may not be your own mom.
Consider writing a note of thanks to a woman who impacted your life…perhaps a spiritual mother.
What are some ways that you can be a shining beacon in your child’s life or the life of a child that you know? Be specific.
Click over to my Facebook page and tell me the name of one older women who impacted your life. It could be your mom, or it could be someone else. I’ll start. Mary Marshal Young taught me more about prayer than any woman I know.
More from the Girlfriends
If you are a mom who needs some encouragement today, you’ll want to read my book, Being a Great Mom—Raising Great Kids. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And you will know that you have one of the most important jobs on earth! And if you’re a wife, come and join us at Facebook.com/ThePrayingWivesClub.
Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070
info@girlfriendsingod.com
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