Friday, May 6, 2016
With Mothers Day coming up this Sunday, I am reminded of the many things that mothers say and do and how some of those memories stay with us forever. Here are just a few of the funny things some mothers have been known to say: “ Always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.” “Did you flush the toilet when you got through” “Are you going out dressed like that?” and “How do you know you don't like it if you haven't tasted it?” If you’re like most, you find yourself using some of your mom’s old sayings from time to time, or get nostalgic when you hear someone else use them, even get a tear or two in your eyes. But mothers are special mostly for the things they do and what they mean to us.
When we were kids, whose name was the first one we yelled out when we were in trouble or needed something? Who was the first one we ran to when we got a cut, scrape or suffered some kind of injury? Who was the one who would first come to our defense when we were being attacked or criticized? I feel badly for people in life who never had a loving mother because, other than God’s, there is no love greater than a mother’s love. There are many things moms do for their children, too many for me to mention in the space allotted in this blog, but I was recently reminded of one more.
Going into this year’s playoffs, The Los Angeles Clippers were one of the few teams that many experts believed had a good shot at winning the NBA title. Then, the roof caved in on them when they lost their best two players to injuries on the same night. They lost that game in Portland and also the following playoff game in their own home court. After that second straight defeat, a reporter for the LA Times, Brad Turner, asked Doc Rivers the Clippers’ coach, “Who do you lean on to make sure you don't get discouraged?" Said Rivers: "I don't know. That's a good question." Moment later, Rivers began softly crying. Because he suspected folks would assume he was sobbing because of his team’s loss, Rivers quickly added: "I'm not crying over being discouraged," he said. "Brad made me think about my mom, so, that would have been the person." (the one he would lean on when feeling discouraged) His mom, Bettye Rivers, died in June of last year. I bet many of us know exactly what he meant and what he felt, but whether or not you had a good father and mother, here’s one Commandment we cannot change or sidestep: “Honor your mother and your father, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) Mothers are special, I hope yours was too.
Memory verse for the week: (2 Cor. 6:14) “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
