Monday, May 11, 2015

A Good Mother's Day at Church

It was an interesting Mother’s Day yesterday at our church. 

In our Bible study class, we took the time to allow everyone the opportunity to say a few words or share some memories about their mothers.

My wife and I, at the age of 67 years, are among the youngest members in the class.  Most of them are between 70 and 85 so, as you might expect, most of our mothers are deceased.

As everyone took their turns to talk about their mothers, I noted a common theme; most of the class described their childhood family dynamics in terms of extreme hardships, disappointments, dysfunctional relationships, premature deaths, and abandonments; not exactly the kind of fantasy family life most Christians would expect. 

Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority praised God for His grace and mercy as they recognized His sovereign and loving work in their lives to bring them to Himself.

It was a good Mother’s Day.

“And we know that,  for those who love God, 
all things work together for good, 
for those who are called 
according to his purpose.  
For those whom he foreknew 
he also predestined 
to be conformed to the image of his Son, 
in order that he might be the firstborn 
among many brothers.  
And those whom he predestined 
he also called, 
and those whom he called he also justified, 
and those whom he justified he also glorified.”  
Romans 8:28-30