Is It A Day For Mom?
On this day throughout our country, and on other dates in other places all over the world, mothers are honored. Strangely, the date is not always the same, but the second Sunday in May is the day set aside to celebrate Mother’s Day in America. Why Sunday? Why not another day? Many ‘holidays’ occur on various days of the week regardless of their significance.
There are a plethora of holidays recognized by Americans. Some of these are historical, others “religious”, and some, while not specifically recognized as “federal” holidays are observed by many in diverse ways for some reason. Take for instance, New Years Day. It may or may not fall on a Sunday, and if it does, the government sees to it the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.
Many other ‘holidays’ have a specific date applied to them based on various grounds. For example, the 4th of July, or Independence Day, must be celebrated on that specific date as it commemorates the same date the original Thirteen Colonies declared they would no longer be subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were, as of that date, now united, free, and independent states.
Even some so-called “religious” holidays, created by man and placed on a schedule, don’t fall on a Sunday. An assigned date was given to these, and some of these dates were changed a few times in history to fit man’s whims. Interestingly, said dates, and the holi-(holy)days they depict don’t have their origin in the rightly divided Word of God. I suspect if a man or woman “invents” a holiday, they should be given the privilege to affix it to the date they choose.
But why choose a “day” which the Lord made holy. We read in Acts 20:7 & 1Cor 16:2 that the church met on the first day of the week (Sunday) to ‘gather together’ for worship. Why tarnish that which the Lord sanctified and use it for any other purpose than which the Lord Himself intended?
Perhaps this was the mindset of my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson, when he sat down and wrote the words of the song below. These were written in the 1980’s and fit the song “Higher Ground”. There is nothing wrong with the song “Higher Ground”, but these words, remembered on this day, may very well help us keep our focus directed where it should be on this, the most holy of all days, the first day, Sunday, as it was sanctified by the Lord for worship to God in “spirit and in truth”.
Mother’s Day
(1)
My mother lived a godly life.
She was a Christian and a wife.
Although she’s gone to higher ground,
my love for her is most profound.
(2)
A mother’s day is every day.
We honor her in many ways.
In olden times men honored her,
It’s still the same most every where.
(3)
No Christian mother would prefer,
Our Lord be honored less than her.
And if for mom, one day we keep,
Don’t choose the first day of the week.
(Chorus)
Yes, Mother’s Day, is every day.
Let’s honor her in many ways.
Perhaps her choice of all we do,
Is tell her: “Mother, we love you.”
O.D. Wilson – deceased
Yes, mothers are important. Without one to bring us into this world, we would not be. We are to honor both our parents as Eph. 6:2 commands. In the context of civil authorities, Rom. 13:7, honor is to be rendered to whom honor is due. Husbands are to honor their wife (1Pet. 3:7). The elders who rule well, and labor in word and doctrine are worthy of “double honor” as we read in 1Tim. 5:17. Per 2Pet. 2:17, Christians are also to honor all men including the ‘king’, or civil ruler. (Rom. 12:10) We are to honor each other also. Yes, all of these are important and each has their part in our lives.
However, all pale in comparison to the One whom we are all to honor. In 1Tim. 6:16, speaking of Christ we see: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Let’s prioritize as we should.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
