May 13, 2012
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. -- Romans 13: 7 (NIV)
Where to go to for writing about Mother's Day? I contemplated Hannah and her perseverance in prayer and dedication to the Lord. Last year I wrote about Mary and her bravery and faith in God. But I felt led to the above key verse and how it applies to my mother. I am the middle child of three brothers, so you know that mom had to rely heavily upon the Lord during the many years it took to raise us. A child of divorce at age 14, Mom had to take on both roles in raising us, while working full time as well. Things were not always easy but with Mom, you never really could tell.
So working backwards in Romans 13: 7, we see God instructing us to give honor to who honor is due. Today I honor my mother for doing what moms do all over this world. For loving her children, raising them right, and teaching us right from wrong. This may seem trivial or trite but I assure you it is not. We see in this generation every day kids who simply have no respect for anything or anyone. We have generations of children raised by Hollywood, who teaches them the wrong morals and who cannot differentiate between right and wrong. Unfortunately, we also see far too many these days that are raised in families devoid of love completely, discarded or abused. You have to consciously realize that if you have been blessed enough to have a life that was not filled with abuse and have a clear understanding of right and wrong -- then someone is probably responsible for that. If that someone is your mother, let them know today that you appreciate it. I know that some cultures are not as touchy-feely as others -- I was raised Irish. But the older I grow the more I realize the importance of telling people what honor they are due. Thanks Mom, I love you.
Next from the key verse we see that God instructs us to give people the respect they are owed. Honor and respect go hand in hand. Honor is in how you represent your Mom to others and respect is how you deal with her directly. Remember, that this is actually a commandment:
"Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth." -- Ephesians 6: 2-3 (NLT)
If there is distance between you and a parent I urge you to bridge the gap on this side of the grave. My father passed away apart from all three of his children. What seemed very important at the age of 18 didn't seem to mean as much ten years later when he was in the ground. When it comes to respect, I have seen children treat their parents in absolutely reprehensible ways. Levels of disrespect that God cannot be pleased with. Remember, the Bible says we will be held for every careless word. There is an old adage that says when I was 15 I thought my mother knew nothing"I was amazed how much she had learned by the time I was 30. The joke of course being that she was always right and I had to learn, often the hard way, because I simply did not listen. I give my mother respect today because she has earned it by simply putting up with me. Thanks Mom, I love you.
Lastly from the key verses we see God imploring us to give everyone what you owe them -- taxes or revenue. It is sad but often in America we rarely consider what we owe our mothers. Forget taxes and revenue -- I could never pay my mother back financially. But shouldn't we at least consider what we owe our mothers for bringing us into the world? For raising us from dirty diapers to dirty clothes to dirty dishes? For selfless devotion? For nights staying up waiting for us to come home? For backtalk? I know that the Word says that we should give everyone what we owe them but I am unsure I can ever pay back my mother for everything she has done for me and continues to do.
All I can say this day is Happy
Mother's Day. Thanks Mom, I love you.
Rev. Anthony
