Mother’s Day for Christians: Should you celebrate it?
A family celebrating Mother’s Day for Christians. Image: Jimmy Dean|Unsplash
Mother’s Day for Christians encompasses a divine outlook to this celebrated event.
As the second Sunday of May approaches, people worldwide prepare to celebrate this day, dedicated to honoring mothers and mother figures.
We usually spend this special day bringing them to a nice dinner with the rest of the family. We also give them gifts or their favorite chocolates and flowers. Other times we fire up a sumptuous barbecue in the yard with friends and neighbors sharing in the camaraderie.
Intrinsically, this particular day offers an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate mothers’ immense contributions to us and society. We recognize their tireless care and nurturing in their role in shaping our generation.
Mother’s Day for Christians: How it started
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 5:16
The biblical roots of honoring your mother are taken from the Fifth Commandment of God, which clearly states that we must love and honor our parents.
Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans have also spawned the early roots of celebrating motherhood with associated deities.
Mothering Sunday, a Christian celebration, was founded in England during the 16th century and was devoted to returning to one’s home church and showing gratitude towards one’s mother.
Anna Jarvis formulated the modern portrayal of Mother’s Day in 1908 in the United States. Her mother’s work as a peace activist was the reason behind this introduction. Anna worked towards implementing a national holiday to appreciate mothers and their impact on society.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother’s Day a national holiday in the U.S. to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
The importance and significance of Mother’s Day for Christians
Honoring your mother is an integral part of society and Christianity. The Bible teaches us that mothers have a unique role in nurturing and raising children.
Proverbs 31:26-28 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
This passage highlights the importance of a mother’s wisdom, kindness, and diligence in caring for her family. It also emphasizes the honor and respect those children and husbands should give to their mothers and wives.
Celebrating Mother’s Day for Christians can also be seen as an opportunity to thank God for the gift of motherhood. Psalm 127:3-4 states, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.”
Ways how to honor our mothers
Here are some ways on how we could honor our mothers:
Obedience: A basic virtue of children
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” – Ephesians 6:1
In our younger years, we are always told to obey our parents. Jesus Christ was obedient to his mother, Mary. Luke 2:51-52 says, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
Obedience is the act of following rules, orders, or instructions given by someone in authority, like our mothers. Obedience is fundamental virtue because it allows children to learn how to respect and honor their parents.
As our primary caregivers and authority figures in our youth, our obedience has helped us develop self-discipline and self-control.
Loving and taking care of your mother
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8
In our adult years, the Bible also instructs us to provide for our mothers’ needs, especially in their old age. This commitment means caring for them and ensuring they have food, shelter, and everything else they need to live comfortably.
In many instances, mothers are rashly enrolled in nursing homes to relieve their children of the burden of caring for older people. Nothing wrong with nursing homes. They can provide daily care for our parents, especially if they have health conditions.
But they may be exposed to adverse conditions such as nursing home neglect. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), “roughly 95% of nursing home residents have been neglected or have witnessed neglect.”
Loving and caring for your mother involves showing her appreciation, respect, and affection for all she has done for you throughout your life. This commitment can include spending quality time with her, listening to her, helping her with tasks, expressing gratitude, and showing kindness.
Pray for them and share the Gospel
“I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” – Philemon 1:6
The Bible tells us to pray and share the Gospel with others, especially the unbelievers. Praying for our mother this Mother’s Day is a great way to show our genuine love for them since we are invoking the name of Christ in her life.
Moreover, sharing the Words of God is our ultimate aim and service to the Lord. By sharing with our mothers the Gospel, We allow her the supreme opportunity of knowing Christ and gaining a seat in eternal life. What could be more glorious than to see each other in heaven?
Celebrating Mother’s Day: A tribute to God
The Bible says that God is love. This Mother’s Day, let us express God’s benevolence by showing our respect and appreciation to our mothers, as Christ loves us.
We could not have been existent today if not for our mothers. It was through them that we were born from God. Their love and caring hands raised us from infancy to adulthood, seeing that we can get the best out of life. It is utterly unimaginable to hear of a mother who does not truly love her child.
Celebrating Mother’s Day for Christians gives us a reason to express gratitude to God for the gift of motherhood. Giving birth and raising a child is indeed a divine blessing. It allows us to participate in the miracle of creation and witness the power of God’s love.
Loving our mothers must not be bounded by time or special days of the year. Instead, we should honor them daily in actual presence or through prayers.
