Happy Mother's Day to All!!

When I was trying to have Little Miss, there were three things I hated:
1. People who asked when we were going to start a family
2. Baby Showers
3. Mother's Day


I hated Mother's Day.  I was happy to celebrate it with my Mom, but it was a day that reminded me that I was childless...even with an incredible amount of effort.  I'll admit it, I was jealous. I was yearning to fill my home with children that are out of my reach...that's what Mother's day was, a day that was simply a reminder of unfulfilled longings.


It got to the point where I had to be dragged out the door on Mother's Day.  So, Hubby did one year, to a church that we had only recently started attending.  About halfway through the service, Pastor Tom stood up to talk about Mother's Day.  I started to grab my purse so I could escape to the bathroom.


Suddenly, all of the women in the congregation were asked to stand up.  Pastor Tom started to commend us all as mothers...not merely to children, but to everyone in the church and in our lives.  


You see, whether or not you have a child, you are made with the ability to care for people unselfishly, giving up time and energy to those around you.  You mother the children (and adults!) in your family, your church, your life.  Basically, you don't have to give birth to a child to be a Mother!


So this Mother's Day while the world is celebrating motherhood, remember the "childless" too.  We all know the Proverbs 31 woman needs to be appreciated, but the 1 Samuel 1 woman does too.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing women in my life!!!

Martha

I have been humbled by my seven-year-old.  Yesterday, I was getting my Sunday School lesson together, and she offered to help me cut some things out.  OK, I begged and pleaded and finally ordered her to help, but…  She was cutting out pictures of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha.  (Remember Lazarus?  He died.  But Jesus raised him. )

So, she asked me who they were and what my lesson was about.  I told her the story from Luke 10, where Jesus came to visit Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.  Martha rushed around, cleaning and cooking, and making everything just perfect for her visitor, but Mary just sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to him and talking to him.  Well, Martha was having none of this, and charged into the room and told Jesus, the Son of God, that he needed to make Mary help clean and cook and make things perfect!

Here comes the part of the story I always have trouble with.  Jesus told Martha that SHE had it wrong, and Mary was doing just what she needed to do!

The reason this story is so difficult, is that I am a Martha.  I see myself as a servant.  I really struggle with the need to make sure that things are perfect all of the time, and the house is sparkling clean, and the food is cooked perfectly, and that everyone in my presence is having a good time.  And I never understood how Martha wanting to make sure everything was just right for Jesus was wrong! 

At this point, Little Miss pipes up, “Mommy, you need to do that.”  “Do what honey?” I ask, already focused on the next task rather than our conversation. “You need to stop working all of the time and start enjoying what is going on!  Jesus won’t care if the house isn’t clean.” 

Holy carp. 

She’s totally right. 

Here my seven-year-old gets this story that I have been struggling with for years.  Jesus doesn’t care if my house is clean.  Jesus doesn’t care if the food tastes good.  Jesus just wants me to sit by him and listen to him and be his friend.

Easter--It's NOT about the Bunny

  I heard the best statement today from a middle school boy.  We were filling balloons to give out to children at our church’s Helicopter Egg Drop*.  And he said, “I think we should get more gifts at Easter, not Christmas.  I mean, it’s the day he rose from the dead!  Anyone can be born; it takes work to resurrect yourself.”  Now, the present part of the statement is a little skewed, but the rest of it is pretty awesome.  I’m amazed how people, even Christians, look more at the bunny and the ham than at the real meaning of Easter.  You see so many people in December with “Keep Christ in Christmas” stickers, but who reminds people that “It’s Not About The Bunny”?

Remember, Easter was a game changer.   Easter was when God raised Jesus from the dead, indicating that He has defeated sin and death once and for all (Acts 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20). That’s something to get excited about!

So, enjoy your chocolate and your glazed hams, that’s not a problem.  But keep in mind the true meaning of Easter…and it’s NOT about the Bunny.

*If you’ve never seen a helicopter egg drop, take a look at our church’s video:  It’s great!
Gateway Church Egg Drop