See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

All of us have watched professional sports.

It doesn't matter if it's hockey, football, baseball or championship chess, when the cameras zoom in on the winner, he or she will stop whatever he or she is doing, hold up an index finger, and say, "Number one." If the camera stays on them for a second or two longer, they will mouth the words, "Hi, mom!"

Why is it always mom who comes to these players' minds at the moment of success? Why not, "Hi, wife!" or "Hi, kids!" or "Hi, dad!" or even, "Hi, college coach that brought me to this point where I'm making a gazillion dollars"?

Why do they always say hello to mom?

Like the rest of us, these athletes know their mothers are standing behind them. Indeed, a person can commit an unspeakable crime and everyone will abandon him -- everybody -- except for Mom.

Look at Mary, Jesus' mother. As the Savior was dying to take away the sins of humankind, almost everybody else had deserted Him. Embarrassed or frightened, most friends had fled from His side. But Mary, the Lord's mother, stayed at the foot of the cross (see John 19:25).

It's Mother's Day and it's right we celebrate it. But what is it we celebrate this Mother's Day? Is Mother's Day merely a time to give thanks for a biological individual who struggled and suffered through her children's sins, stunts and shenanigans?

The church, Christ's church, says, "No!"

The church, Christ's church, says, we rejoice in Christian mothers who, with love, write on the hearts of their children what the rough hand of the world cannot erase. In doing so, we remember birth mothers, adoptive mothers, and mothers who never had a child to call their own. We remember all who found it within themselves to speak to the little ones of the Lord's gracious love.

We remember those who have shared how God's Son experienced the ultimate loneliness so our sons, our daughters might never be alone; how God's Son suffered so our children would never have to suffer eternally; how God's Son laid down His life so our sons and daughters might live. Most importantly, they told how God's Son rose so our sons and daughters might have life. God's Son rose so all who believe in Jesus as their suffering Substitute, their victorious Friend, their living Lord, will live forever.

Dear mothers, look into your cribs and cradles. Look at your young children, your teens, your young adults, your children, with families of their own. Look at your grandchildren growing up in a different world than we could ever have imagined.

Look at them. Do you love them?

Of course, you do! You've laid down your lives for them, but God loves them with a greater, a deeper, longer- lasting love than yours. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us. His is a love so great that His Son died so we might be called children of God.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for those women who have loved us and sacrificed themselves for us, we give thanks. May their love remind us of the Savior's love, and their sacrifice of His. This we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 6-7    Psalms 30    John 1:29-51

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