Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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FAMILY – A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM GOD
MOTHER’S DAY
 JOHN 19 :25-27
Vs 27. “Here is your mother"
We give thanks to God always for you. Constantly mentioning you in our prayers remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 1: 2-3)

Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May to recognize and honor all the mothers of the family. It started in the United States in the early 20th century at the initiative of a lady by the name Anna Jarvis. This is a holiday that has been now commercialized to a big extent and celebrated worldwide on different dates. Mainly it is a celebration honoring motherhood. In the catholic church this celebration is associated with worshipping virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord. Mother’s Day in general gives everyone a chance to honor and express their love and affection to their mothers with words of appreciation and gifts. Motherhood is a great honor, and all mothers are epitomes of self-sacrifice for the family, unconditional love and always kneeling down with tearful prayers for the welfare of the family. Family is a gift from God. It   shall be a place where there is worship, prayer, praise, care, love, encouragement, strength, nourishment, unity and reinforcement all under one roof. God created the family and as members of the family we have responsibilities to fulfill also. We have to love each other and commit to the family and meet all family obligations as a priority. As God loves us, we love each other, and our love and joy shall radiate to others. A family that prays together stays together. Joshua said as for me and my family we will worship the Lord. We all shall be irrespective of age, social status, or other factors that may be a hindrance shall be able to proclaim this statement with Joshua.

Mary accepted God’s will for her life no matter what it might cost her. Let us follow her example. Let God give us grace and courage to be faithful to Him no matter what price we may be called to pay. By faith we see Mary who was a teenage girl replying to angel Gabriel “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said “. Luke 1 :28. Honoring our parents and taking care of them is the responsibility of every child. Let us evaluate ourselves today, on this Mother’s Day. 

Are we honoring or dishonoring our parents? It is very pathetic and disturbing to see that now a days many children dumb their aged, disabled parents in nursing homes and limit their contacts with them with an annual visit or few phone calls or a holiday wish card or a bouquet of flowers. Whatever may be the reasons to justify their actions let us resolve that family is a gift of God and it is God given opportunity for children to take care of their parents and by doing so they will be blessed as well as their generations. Here in today's portion we see Jesus entrusting her mother to his beloved disciple John as He is ready to leave this world. This may look very foolish for Him to be concerned in the great hour of His great painful sacrifice. This of course emphasizes the savior’s love and compassion for His widowed mother in the midst of His excruciating pain and again reflecting the importance of a family life.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for the great gift of motherhood. Let us remember the blessed sacrificial lives of our mothers and grand mothers and pay tribute to them. Enable us to trust and serve the Lord they worshipped. Amen

Thought for the day
Blessed is every one that feared Jehovah. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of the house. Thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
 
Dr. Thomas K. Jose
The Mar Thoma Church, Staten Island.

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