When I first became a mom, we had a neighbor named Sue. She and her husband Bill had four grown boys and a few grandkids. She was a wealth of information any time I was overwhelmed because motherhood was all too new to me. Bill and Sue were members of First Presbyterian Church but they never talked to me about faith. Instead they showed me their faith in how they lived.
When our boys were Baptized, we had friends and family members write notes to our kids that we would save until their confirmation. We moved in between Shane’s birth and Dori’s birth and lost touch with Sue and Bill. Both of them passed away before any of our kids confirmed their faith.
When our boys made that choice, we were surprised to find we had letters from Bill and Sue. Both John and Shane asked who they were and we were able to share about their witness as believers because they were such amazing neighbors.
A mother’s love is the purest and most selfless love in the world. She sacrifices her needs, wants and desires for the sake of her children. She takes care of us during sickness, comforts us in times of sorrow, and celebrates with us in times of joy. As we honor our mothers, let us be reminded of the love she has shown us and the many ways in which she has blessed our lives.
As Christians, we are also called to be good neighbors. To love our neighbors as ourselves and to treat others with kindness and respect. This Mother’s Day, let us not only honor our own mothers but also those who have been like mothers to us – our grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, and neighbors. Let us reach out to our neighbors who might be struggling with motherhood or who may have lost their mothers. Let us extend the love and comfort that our own mothers have given us throughout the years.
In honor of our mothers, let us be the best version of ourselves as good neighbors. May we be kind, compassionate, and supportive to those around us, just as our mothers have been to us.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
