Mother’s Day came and went this last Sunday. Hopefully, you were able to spend time with your mom, or at least give her a call or send her a card. Mother’s Day is a day to honor mom, but Mother’s Day shouldn’t be the only day you honor her. With that in mind, let’s explore some ways you can honor mom every day.
How Can You Honor Mom Every day?
(1) By obeying her (Eph 6:1)
Right before we read the command to honor our parents in Ephesians 6, Paul says,
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Eph 6:1)
When children obey their mother’s, they honor her. They honor her because they show respect or due regard for her position when they obey.
Now I have to issue a caveat. The obedience we give our mother, parents, or anyone for that matter isn’t blind obedience. What she asks us to do should be in line with God’s Word. If it’s not, then we shouldn’t do it. Our first allegiance and obedience must be to God.
(2) By listening to and living by her teaching (Prov 6:20-24)
In Proverbs 6, Solomon writing to his son says,
“My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.” (Pr 6:20–24)
As we grow up, inevitable we receive teaching from our mother’s. We honor her when we listen to and live by her teaching.
Again, this is something we should do, as long as it is teaching that coincides with God’s Word. You see, the wisdom Solomon wrote about was God’s wisdom. Since it was God’s wisdom, Solomon counseled his son to not only listen to and live by his teaching but his mother’s teaching as well, which would bring her honor and help keep him from sin.
(3) By seeking her wisdom and help (Job 12:12)
In Job, we learn that,
“Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.” (Job 12:12)
This tells us, then, that our mother, who is older than us, should have some wisdom they can impart. If you are a teenager right now, you are probably doing everything you can to not roll your eyes, but it’s true. Most parents have at least some amount of wisdom they can share.
When we go to our mother and ask for her advice during difficult times, major life decisions, or work related projects, we honor her. We honor her because we recognize she has wisdom. Wisdom we want and need.
(4) By considering her advice and disagreeing respectfully
When it comes to wisdom or help your mom offers, you may not agree. You may not use her wisdom or advice. Even so, you can honor her by at least considering her advice, by not just writing it off the moment you hear it. When you spend time thinking about and considering your mom’s advice, you honor her.
And you know, after thinking about it for awhile, you might even find her advice to be better than you first thought. But even if you don’t. Even if you decide her advice isn’t quite right, you can still honor her in the way that you disagree.
You see, there are two ways to disagree with someone:
- (1) One way denigrates them and shows no regard for their feelings or position.
- (2) The other is exactly the opposite. It lifts them up and it takes into account their feelings and position.
So even if you disagree with and decide to not use your mom’s advice, you can still honor her in the way you disagree.
(5) By supporting her
By support, I don’t mean financial support. We will get to that point next. Instead, I have in mind physical and emotional care, especially in her old age.
I know you have all heard a parent say,
“Whatever you do, don’t lock me away in a nursing home.”
Parents make that comment because they know that’s a real possibility. And no one wants to be forgotten just because they are old and can’t do what they once could. David, one of the greatest kings in the nation of Israel, had this same feeling. He says in Psalm 71 to the Lord,
“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.” (Ps 71:9)
You see, no one wants to be forgotten. And they shouldn’t. Pastor and Author Kent Hughes says,
“Even if parents have no financial needs, “there is still a Christian obligation for hands-on, loving care. Nurses may be employed, but there must be more—the care cannot be done by proxy. Emotional neglect and abandonment is not an option, for such conduct ‘is worse than an unbeliever.’”[1]
So when we both let our mothers know we won’t forget her and show that we haven’t forgotten her when she grows old, we honor her.
(6) By providing for her financially
When we are willing to sacrifice our finances to help our mother, we show her honor. As a Christians, caring for our families financially isn’t an option. It’s a mandate. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul writes,
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim 5:8)
Those are strong words, and they are meant to be. Paul wants us to recognize the obligation we have to our family, especially our mother’s. They sacrificed and cared for us when we couldn’t care for ourselves, so we should do the same. When we do, we honor them.
(7) By forgiving her
Let’s face it, no one is perfect, not even our mother’s. They are going to make mistake and do things that aren’t right. They’re going to sin against us. When that time comes, we should be willing to forgive.
As Christians, we can forgive because we have been forgiven. In Colossians 3, Paul tells us that we should,
“[bear] with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col 3:13)
You see, we can and should be willing to forgive others because we have been forgiven. Not just for something little, but something great. We have been forgiven for all out rejection and rebellion against God. If God can forgive us, certainly we can forgive our mother’s.
Now, that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to a mother’s actions. There certainly are, but we can still extend forgiveness to them, and we can do that because we have been forgiven. When we forgive, we honor our mothers.
(8) By remembering her gratefully
For most of us, our mother’s have done a lot for us. They have taught us; sacrificed for us; exercised immeasurable patience; extended grace, mercy, and love to us; and much, much more. By remembering and thanking your mother for all she has done, you show her honor. Even if she isn’t here. Just by remembering her and all she has done for you, you show her honor.
I hope this last Mother’s Day you spend some time honoring your mom. But don’t just let Mother’s Day be the only day you honor your mom. Make it a point to honor her each and every day.
Question for Reflection
- How do you honor your mom?
Resources
[1] Quote From Tim Challies articles found here: https://www.challies.com/articles/5-practical-ways-to-honor-your-parents
Some parts of this post were adapted from From Tim Challies articles found here: https://www.challies.com/articles/5-practical-ways-to-honor-your-parents
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