The Tribune

By Edna Jones

“HONOUR thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

At the crucifixion when Jesus was going through his most horrifying ordeal, his mother stood beneath the cross and watched in voice less agony her son in his last moments of torture and humiliation here on earth.

Jesus cried out with a lamentable voice, “Women behold your son”, and to his brother he said, “Behold your mother.” Jesus loved his mother dearly, he had the most tender affection and compassion for her.

What a title, what a career choice, what a role model and image bearer is the term motherhood.

Whether you have given birth to a child, adopted a child or mentored a child, you have experienced that indescribable feeling and relationship of motherhood. Those priceless attributes of love, tenderness, caring, sharing, nurturing, forgiveness and so many more qualities defines a good mother.

Whether children accept and appreciate these motherhood qualities in their parents, these qualities continue to exist and spring forth. Like a fountain, a mother’s love keeps flowing freely and unconditionally, and it cannot be contained. Mother’s Day, which we recently celebrated, continues to be the most highly celebrated day in the year, and for good reasons it should be.

Hallmark and other stationary stores provide an endless array of greeting cards that express the intense feelings of a child to their mother, and other family members and friends who have felt that warm love and tender care of that special parent. Every type of retailer in the stationary, flowers, chocolate, jewellery or clothing business benefits exceedingly in the weeks and days leading up to Mother’s Day.

Every child is scrambling around to find the best gift and the right card that uniquely expresses their intimate feelings for the number one woman in his or her life, the one termed “my mother”. Nothing is allowed to taint this moment of genuine love and gratitude for the one person that we owe our whole being and existence to, and even our success.

Moreover, let us consider the children that have not celebrated Mother’s Day this year because their dearly beloved mother has passed on. or the parent that is not looking forward to Mother’s Day because the loved child has passed on and they are still grieving over the loss. You can find comfort in knowing that you can still celebrate Mother’s Day.

All those treasured moments that you shared with your loved ones through the years go on eternally in your consciousness, you remember every bit of it, and you have the right to take down that memory box along with all the keepsakes of previous Mother’s Days and celebrate. Your mom or your child is only a beautiful thought away, and you can reminisce as much as you wish and as long as you wish.

With the same breath we can also acknowledge ‘our supreme’ father/mother in God, who has not passed on and left us alone. God is always loving and caring for his universal family throughout all eternity, and that includes you. When we feel neglected by our children, can’t see or hear from that son or daughter that you love so much, just know that you can turn exclusively to God, the greatest nurturer. In Him you can find all the love, comfort, nurturing, caring and forgiving attributes of a precious mother.