Mother Dear, I love you so

The children of our congregation sing for their mothers each year on Mother?s Day during our worship service this beautiful little song: ?I know a name, a glorious name, Dearer than any other. Listen, I?ll whisper the name to you: It is the name of mother. Mother, so tender and kind and true, I love you, I love you. Mother, so tender and kind and true, I love you.?

The traditions of celebrating the role of mother vary from country to country, but the universal message is we are who we are in large part because of our mothers. I found a story recently from a children?s magazine, ?The Friend? that I would like to share in this column today.

?All seven of my cousins are going to be at my grandmother?s house for Mother?s Day,? Sarah said as she watered Mrs. Martin?s seedlings. ?We always have a picnic lunch in the backyard.?

?That sounds like a lot of fun,? Mrs. Martin replied, pulling a tiny weed from a pot.

Every spring Sarah and Mrs. Martin, who lived next door, planted pumpkin, watermelon, and squash seeds in clay pots on Mrs. Martin?s sun porch. Later they would move the little sprouts to the garden in the backyard.

?What are you doing for Mother?s Day?? Sarah asked.

?I?m not sure. When is it, anyway??

Later, at lunch, Sarah said to her mother ?It just isn?t right, somebody that nice should celebrate Mother?s Day.?

Sarah went up to her room. Her desk was covered with art supplies for the cards she was making for her mom and grandma. She had already sprinkled green and pink glitter on the edges of two cards. She picked up a fresh sheet of paper and started writing:

Mothers and grandmothers are nice.

They give us help when we need help.

They talk to us about important things.

They find fun things for us to do.

They make good things for us to eat.

They give us hugs.

You do all these things, so I am saying Happy Mother?s Day to you!

Love, Sarah

Then, Sarah decorated an envelope to match and carefully printed ?To Mrs. Martin? on the outside.

Sarah then called her grandmother.

After Sarah made her call, she turned over the card for Mrs. Martin and wrote on the back. Then she put it in the envelope and bounced down the stairs and out the back door.

Mrs. Martin was putting seeds into the bird feeder. ?Hello, Sarah,? she called.

?Hi,? Sarah said. ?This is for you.? She handed the card to Mrs. Martin.

Mrs. Martin opened the card and read it slowly. Then she turned it over to read what Sarah had carefully written on the back:

You are invited to be an Honorary Mother at a picnic at Grandma?s house on Mother?s Day. Please come.

And Jesus said: ?Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself? (Matt. 19:19).

This story reminds me, not only of my own mother and the mother of my children; but also the many Honorary Mothers that have influenced my life and helped me become who I am today.

Take a moment this weekend to remember those in your life that deserve to be remembered as your Honorary Mothers.