Yesterday I had the privilege of being with my precious mother who is now 96 years young. She walked out of her house looking beautiful and ready to go, right when my car pulled up to her house. She had been ready and waiting on me for over an hour because somehow she thought I would be arriving at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
When I saw her come out of her house my thoughts were, "Oh how beautiful she is"! When she got situated in my car with her seatbelt on, she looked straight into my eyes and said with such sweetness and kindness, "I was wondering what happened to you. I thought something bad had happened to you".
I looked at her kind of bewildered and asked her what she meant. Come to find out, my brother thought I said (in my text to him) that I would arrive at my mother's house at 7:30 a.m. when I actually I had said I would leave my house at 7:30 a.m. He had his daughter and son-in-law and their 4 children visiting so I can understand how he could have misread it and misinformed my Mama.
After I explained to her that I was not late but on time, she just smiled and gave me her little laugh that she often gives me these days because she seems to be getting a bit more confused about things as the days go by.
Unfortunately, we were both heading to a funeral. It was my cousin's funeral. She had fought a courageous battle with cancer and now was with her Lord. She won the victory because of Jesus and the work of the cross.
At the funeral I watched my Mama cry over the gasket and it revealed the love she had for my sweet cousin who in my opinion left us all much too soon. She left behind a loving husband of 36 years, two beautiful daughters who dearly loved their mother, two precious young grandsons and a loving, caring sister and brother. Not to mention a wonderful church family and other loved ones such as my mama and I and many others.
She left a great legacy though. She left a legacy of "blessed assurance". Not a single one of us were left without assurance of where she was now. We all knew she was with Jesus. In her life, she made sure that people knew that she loved God, loved his Word and loved her family and others. That brings us joy but doesn't make us miss her any less.
It is more natural for children to have to see their parents leave this world, than it is for parents to have to watch their children leave this world. Both are painful times of the heart and neither are pleasant.
As I reflected on watching a beautiful young 64 year old mother leave this world and watching my beautiful young at heart 96 year old mother yesterday, it made me think of Jesus' mother Mary. Good mothers love their children and are always wanting the very best for them. My mother wants the best for me and my cousin always wanted the best for her children and grandchildren.
Mary wanted the best for Jesus as well. As a mother she thought she knew what was best for her son even though he didn't agree with her. So often that is the way our relationships are with our parents. We think we know better than they do.
T
here were way too many times in my life that I did not listen to my Mother's words of advice. And way too many times that I would have avoided trouble if I had but listened to her.
Jesus went to funerals too. But I also remember that he attended a wedding that his mother Mary attended as well.
John 2:1-12
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. And Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
"Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water", so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed a few days.
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This story amazes me! However, today one thing really stands out to me in this story. The confidence that Mary had in her son to obey her. Jesus had no sooner told her NO NOT YET, than she told the servants to "do whatever he tells you."
Oh the joy we mothers would have if we could have the confidence in our children to do what we tell them to do.
If only they would listen to us and obey us, their lives would perhaps be more glorious a lot sooner than they think.
I know now that when I was younger and my mother would share her wisdom with me, I knew in my heart that she was right but instead I just responded with a NO NOT YET instead.
I was not like Jesus who changed his mind and obeyed her and turned water into wine. He did a glorious thing that blessed many just because he obeyed his mother.
Mary had to suffer greatly at the cross watching her precious son die yet she had the memories of her son being an obedient son who brought her many blessings.
What about us? Can we bring our mothers many blessings by obeying them? Even if they are not here with us on this earth any longer, their words will live on in our hearts and minds.
I hope that if your mother is still with you that you will obey her words of wisdom and not be a, NO NOT YET, child! And I hope that if your mother is no longer with you that you will listen to her words of wisdom that still linger in your heart and mind and obey them.
You may not think it is time to do things her way but look at how one act of obedience to his mother, changed Jesus' life. This act of obedience was the beginning of Jesus doing many miraculous things while on this earth.
Your life could be a miracle as well. Listen to your Mother! Remember the things she has taught you. Mary had the privilege of knowing that even though Jesus did not think it was "his time", that he would do as she said, because she was his mother. What a great influence she had on his life.
What can we do today to honor our Mother and be more like Jesus? Obey her! It will bring her much pleasure and bring us much glory.
Mothers are always wondering what will happen to their children and perhaps concerned that something bad will happen to them, just as my sweet mother did when she thought I was an hour late, and although Mary would one day face the pain of watching her son die on a cross, she had the memories of a faithful obedient son. Perhaps nothing could be more precious to her than that.
Make this a Happy Mother's Day! Honor your mother always by obeying her words of wisdom.
Her children stand and bless her...Proverbs 31:28
Dearest Jesus,
Thank you so much for leaving us an example of obedience to your mother Mary. Thank you for showing us how we should react to our mother's request even when we are thinking, NO NOT YET! Help us to turn from that stance and turn to a stance of obedience. Thank you for good mothers. Mothers who pray and listen to you God and who want the very best for their children.
Bless the children for sure, but bless the mothers who try so hard to lead their children in the right direction and sometimes get disappointed by their children's disobedience. Comfort all mothers and help them not to give up on their children but continue to pray for them and instruct them in the way they should go.
Jesus thank you for the miracle you performed at the wedding just because you obeyed your mother. Help sons and daughters who are saying NO NOT YET, to follow in your footsteps and obey their godly mothers. Thank you that with you we have hope for miracles.
Comfort those children whose mothers are no longer in this world. Help them to continue to obey the words their mothers left with them. Comfort also mothers who have had to suffer as Mary did because they no longer have their children on this earth. Help them to remember the sweet times when their children did obey them. Comfort, comfort all mothers Jesus.
Move the hearts of children to obey their parents and not rebel and say NO NOT YET!
In your precious holy name we pray, amen.
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