Shade Tree Wisdom 5/11/08

Pentecost Sunday, and Mother’s Day

Pentecost Sunday is the anniversary of Ruth and my confirmation. Pentecost is a festival. The description in Acts chapter 2, 1 – 21, is a story of a miracle. The tongues, the mighty wind, the hearing “in our own tongues”. The wonderful saving message of Christ died and risen again to pay for the sins of the world. Read it again to see How the Holy Spirit touches and teaches His Church. As He does still today through His Word.

And Mother’s day. Can one even begin to describe the rich blessings a Christian, caring, loving mother means to her family. Ling Lemuel in Proverbs 31 says it so well. “Her children arise, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her". Prov. 31,28.

Here is St. Paul writing to his young friend, pastor Timothy. “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also”. 2 Tim. 1,5.

Isn’t that where most of us first learned it? Our faith? At our mother’s knee. She is the one who saw that homework was done, got us off to school on time, patiently tended to our needs, lovingly cared for us when we hurt, soothed us when we failed, patiently sat back while we went through the “I can do it myself’” phase and tried to tie our first shoe lace (and messed it up).

So much of what mothers do is never noticed. It goes on sort of ‘behind the scenes’ as it were. But it is vital to our growing up successfully, and we often don’t appreciate it except now and then with a belated thanks.

In the Plan God set, He meant for the parents to teach, instruct, give flesh to, history for the children. Psalm 78 reviews the history of Israel, “Things our fathers have told us” v.3. It goes on “He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would teach their children, then they would put their trust in God". Vv. 6.7. All this “so they would keep His commandments” v.7b.

And there is the real reason. So that children would learn the Word of God and “their feet would not slip because the law of God is in their heart”. Ps. 37,31.

On this Pentecost Day when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, let us also thank God for the mothers He has given us. Mothers who, by being there as His children, bless our lives.

GPD 5/11/08