HONOUR TO WHOM IT IS DUE.

Mother's Day is here again. No doubt, this weekend we will hear and read a lot about the role of mothers in the home, church and society.

Churches especially will be rife with admonitions to mothers to wake up and not shirk in their mothering responsibilities to the next generation in particular. 

That is perfectly in order if you ask me.

The need for what I call 'Model Mothers' in these days cannot be over flogged. It cannot be said enough that 'the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.' 

My focus in this piece however is slightly off the epicenter of focus this season.

I came across a verse of scripture that struck a chord in me. 

1 Kings 2:19

19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

A lot of events had gone down before this verse and even after. Many of them unpleasant. 

But then we see Bathsheba, King Solomon's mother seeking her son's audience one day in his palace. Upon sighting his mother, King Solomon did the following:

- He rose for his mother

- He bowed to her

- He called for a seat to be put on his right hand for her

-He gave her audience.

These were not just random acts. They were deliberate acts on the part of a highly placed man who did not refrain from according his parent the honour due to her. He chose to sit her on his right hand next to his throne, a place of honour and dignity.

Well, what am I driving at here?

Many of us probably do not consider our mothers deserving of much regard probably because of how they conceived us or how they raised us. They probably did a not-too-pleasant job of raising us, being there for us etc. 

If anyone had an excuse for being condescending towards his mother, it was Solomon. Do you recall that he was born out of an adulterous affair which even led to the death of an innocent man? The upheaval that resulted from that act of indiscretion by his mum was gigantic in proportion to say the least! 

Yet, at his peak of achievement and influence he still honored his mother.

See, no matter what your mother did or did not do, she deserves your honour.

This is a clear biblical injunction that we must heed:

Ephesians 6:2&3

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; 

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Honoring our parents should not be dependent on how we feel about them, it should be about doing as we are commanded by God so that it may be well with us and that we may live long.

I concur at this point that there may be complicated, not-so-straightforward issues involved in your own case.

Well then, how about you prayerfully take the first step of obedience this Mother's Day by honoring your mum with the hope that that forms the foundation for reconciliation or at least the very first steps towards that.

Do your part and leave the rest to God.

Seek counsel regarding the particular details of your relationship with her. 

Whatever you do however, see to it that you accord her the honour due to her as God commanded not only today but always. To be sure, honoring her does not mean doing as she pleases all the time or succumbing to her every whim. It simply means choosing to show her deferential respect and holding her in high esteem because God says to do so to the one through whom you came into the world.

Call her, send her a text or an email, visit her, run an errand or two for her, pray for her, wish her well, whatever!

I pray that the Lord rewards your obedience in many tangible ways.

So, here is wishing all biological mothers, spiritual mothers, step-mothers, foster mothers, mother figures, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, aunts, guardians etc a very happy Mother's Day!

We call you blessed!

Shalom