The Counseling Corner
By Rev. Judith T. Lester, B.Min. M.Th
Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908 when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in West Virginia. She then began a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the United States. Jarvis’ holiday has since been adopted by other countries and it is now celebrated all over the world. People across the globe share their sentiments and express profound love for their mothers on Mother’s Day. This week, let’s look at the Proverbs 31 mother and using the word: G.I.F.T. as an acronym. This writer will outline why Mothers are a special gift from God.
G – Generous. God’s special gift is “generous.” Mother stretches out her hand to the poor; she reaches forth her hands to the needy. Mother is willing to give even though she may not have much. She has a generous and giving spirit. She is a blessing to others because she uses her money wisely. – Proverbs 31:20
I – Ingenious and hardworking. God’s special gift is “ingenious and hardworking.” Mother’s ingenuity is seen in her resourcefulness and creativity. Mother can create a meal for her family with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Mother is not only ingenious but she is hardworking. She can multitask. She can juggle cooking dinner, helping with homework, and taking care of a sick child all at the same time. Mother rises early while it is still night and often is the last to go to sleep at night. – Proverbs 31:13-15
F – Faithful. God’s special gift is “faithful.” Mother will do whatever she needs to do to see that her family is taken care of, even if it means sacrificing her own needs. A faithful mother watch over her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Mother is also faithful and devoted to her God. Mother lives for the God who loves her, and because of that God makes it possible for her to be confident, strong, courageous resilient, caring, loving and wise. When others look at Mother and see these godly virtues, she brings glory to the God who made her. – Proverbs 31:17, 27, 30
T – Thoughtful. God’s special gift is “thoughtful.” Mother is thoughtful when she makes her purchases so as to not waste her money. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. Thus, Mother is a very wise steward of God’s money and His natural resources and appreciates the environmental impact of sustainable gardening. – Proverbs 31:16
There is so much we can say about Mother, but suffice it to say, Mother is truly a very special gift from God. Let’s not only celebrate motherhood during the month of May, but every day should be Mother’s Day! Let her children praise her. Let her husband praise her. Mothers, we praise you for you truly are a special gift from God.
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore, He made mothers.”
– Rudyard Kipling
Next Week: Conclusion
The writer does not assume responsibility in any way for readers’ efforts to apply or utilize information or recommendations made in these articles, as they may not be necessarily appropriate for every situation to which they may refer. If you would like to contact Rev. Lester, write to her c/o P.O. Box 121, Brookfield, WI. 53008.