"How to Love Your Mom"

“How to Love Your Mom”
Mother’s Day -2012
May 13, 2012
Matthew 20:20-21
“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

How would you like to have a mom like that? The fact of the matter is that I have. I am very blessed to have a mom who goes to Jesus daily and asks Him to bless me. I know that – and it humbles me. I’ve told the story before about how just before my Dad died, he and I took a trip to International Falls, Minnesota – the place I was born. He told me something on that trip I had never heard before. He said the hospital was being renovated so all the moms about to give birth were being transported to Fort Francis, Canada – which is just across the river. Mom refused. She wanted her son to be born in the United States in case he ever ran for president. So I was born an American instead of a Canadian.
I told Mom once that I am sorry that I disappointed her and didn’t become president. She said, “You aren’t a disappointment to me, Son. I am very proud of my Preacher Boy.” Someone did say, “Don’t stoop to be a king if God calls you to be a pastor.” So maybe I exceeded her expectations.
What a blessing to have a godly Mom. But not everyone is so blessed. “According to the American Anthropological Association, more than 200 women kill their children in the United States each year. Of 49 women on death row, 11 killed children” I could give specifics and name names. I won’t do that - but
Wow! We don’t hear that side of motherhood very much, do we? But it is true. Not everyone has been as blessed as I have been. Not everyone has a godly mother. So what do you do then? God tells us.
First of all, we are to honor our moms. This is God’s will for us.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3

What does that mean? What does honoring your Mother look like? What it isn’t – is agreeing with her over everything. It isn’t liking everything she does. Some moms make some pretty terrible choices. In this day and age there are some pretty bad moms out there. How is the Christian to honor a mom who is a non believer and possibly despises everything the Christian stands for. Maybe hates the Bible and will have nothing to do with Christ. What is the Christian to do then?
I’ll tell you. No – I will let God tell you. You honor her. How do you honor someone? You treat them with respect. You are polite. You are courteous. You might even give them gifts or little tokens of respect.
You see, when God asks us to honor someone – it is not so much for THEIR benefit – as it is for