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Mothering Sunday is generally the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it’s often called Mother’s Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name.

Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.

On May 9th 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day, a day for public expression and remembrance of our Mothers. The president was not the first one to declare about Mams. 3500 years earlier God said, “Honour thy father and thy mother”

It is as you know the first promise in these commandments given or it goes on to say that your days belong on the earth. God has a connection with obedience to parents and age.

We do not of course respect our parents for that reason, but it still reminds us of the importance God places on parenthood.

I am sure there were times especially when I was young when I found it hard especially when mum told me to do something I just did not want to do.

Today parenting is as hard as it has ever been. I would like to encourage you through this couple who had very little time to be with their son, although the mother has the responsibility of being his nurse. That’s right, she could not call him her child, as her baby was handed over to someone else.

That did not prevent this lady from shaping her son and the future of this boy would have an impact on millions of people, in fact, a nation. She was able to instil into her son principles that would govern his heart in the years to come.

The Bible says this…

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 11:24-25

There was a woman in the Bible who had a lot of struggles; her name was Naomi. Everything was good with Naomi, she had a husband, two sons and two daughters- in-law Then her husband died, leaving her with just her two sons and their wives; her daughters-in-law. Sometime later her two sons also died and she was left with just her two daughters-in-law.

Can you imagine how she felt; sad, heartbroken and bitter from losing the ones she loved. Her daughters-in-law were there with her, but Naomi encouraged them to leave. Naomi said go back to your hometown and families because I have nothing left to give you and may God bless you with another husband.

One of the daughters-in-law did and left. The other one named Ruth stayed close to Naomi and didn’t go. Instead, she stayed right by her side… Ruth said to Naomi don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I’ll go, where you stay I’ll stay.

Ruth was struggling with this whole situation. Ruth had just lost her own husband too and I’m sure that was hard for her. Ruth didn’t just focus on that or on what Naomi couldn’t do for her. Ruth understood that her mother-in-law was struggling too. We need to understand parents struggle too especially in these different times.

Let us as we focus on Mother’s Day do ask God to give especially our elderly parents all that they need and let us go that extra mile.

Remember you only have one mother.

Stay safe and blessed.

Author Edward Lawrence

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