Mothers Day. "Mothers Day" is coming up soon on May 13. It is such an important day that even Camp Dixie's "Chicken Dinner Fellowship" won't be having that dinner in May. So, how about your mom?
The Question. How's your mom doing? That's a question each of us has asked and will ask many times in a lifetime. Our connection with home is through mom and dad. When people ask about mom, they are asking about your home and about how things are with those who are important to you and your family.
Another Mom.
We in the church often talk about a "mother church." By that term, we may mean the first church in our denomination or the first church in our region. In the case of Silverhill, Zion Lutheran Church is a mother church. There are a number of Lutheran churches in our area that would not be here if the Zion mother had not reached out and initiated Lutheran church work. However, our focus is not on them, but on our Zion Mother Church. How's our mother?
Healthy. Our mother is healthy and she's still living in her original home. She's done something with her old kitchen, you know, but that was several years ago. She's turned the kitchen into a museum with the help of her children, Ernie and Henrie Burnett. She does still cook, though, over by her old parsonage garage that isn't here anymore. She got help from her kids a couple years ago and replaced that with her new "Fellowship Hall." Her son Charlie Canning did the bird-dogging on the contractors to get the thing built, but all her kids got together, painted, and outfitted the place once the walls and ceiling were done. It has a new kitchen in it too, and she loves it. And did I tell you that she just got its floor waxed? Do you remember how mom used to hate to do that? A bunch of the kids got together for that one, and her old friend, Thrivent, helped some too.
Social Security. You would think that she'd be on Social Security by now, but nope, she's paying her own way! She has most of what she needs, but she's been falling a little behind lately, even for that new kitchen of hers. The kids have helped her pretty much and they love her, but things are tight sometimes. Her church council works hard to balance her books.
Her Kids. Well, they are growing older like all of us. A number have actually passed away in recent years, but those kids of hers are feisty. Between Sunday worship, Sunday School, mid-week Bible Study, Men's 710, and the Women's Monthly Bible Study Fellowship, they are going strong. And eat! Advent and Lent is exciting, because they do an Advent or a Lenten supper before vespers - she says, "I've never had it so good with soup and sandwiches!" And her kids are right there, serving one another and having a grand old time.
No Assistive Living Plans. No one wants to talk about retiring, certainly not our Zion Mom. There's no retirement in her plans right now. God's been pretty good to her and will be as long as her children love her. She may be in her 103rd year, but her kids are looking after her and she's doing well. Her eyes are as clear as her steeple bell and her purse is pretty deep even with her limited dollars. God has really blessed our Mom.
Honor. There are many moms in our lives. They aren't all the moms in our families, but we have many mothers who are our moms by extension. Zion is one mom by extension. If you ponder motherhood, you will no doubt think of many more. God's Word tells us about honor and the need to honor mom. How's your mom doing?
~ Pastor Dave
