The gift of a godly mother is a priceless blessing, one which often is overlooked! While we should show our mom our appreciation and thankfulness for her sacrifices each day of the year, I am thankful for the day that is specifically set aside each year to honor our mothers for all they have done. Mother’s Day is a special time for our family to ponder the blessings that have been given to us through the woman that gave us life. Sisters, I encourage you to show your mother how special she is to you. Thank her for sacrificing so much to raise you to fear the Lord. Our mothers truly are raising up another generation for the glory of the Lord, by the power of God! Let us bless and lift them up in prayer, especially this week.

Here are some ideas for ways you can make your mom feel extra-special this Mother’s Day.

»On Mother’s Day, make her favorite breakfast, set the table nicely, and arrange a fresh bouquet of flowers for a special touch

»Give her a certificate for an afternoon of babysitting, a night off from cooking dinner; a gift of completing housecleaning project, ironing the week’s clothes, baking bread, or other chore

»Wear matching hair styles – arrange her hair special

»Write her a special card with 25 reasons why you are thankful for her and things that you appreciate about her

»Let her know that you are praying for her every day

»Sew a tablecloth or crochet some washcloths for use in the kitchen, or sew her a pillow, apron, or spring jumper

»Design a photo collage of family pictures with her favorite Bible verse on it, and frame it

»Buy a special mug and fill it with your mom’s favorite beverage

»If your mom likes write note cards, make a beautiful personalized set of hand-stamped cards, with envelopes to match

»Weed and water her garden for her

»Praise and thank her for what she does; take time to notice all the tasks that she does daily and the special touches that only a mother can add to a day

»Most importantly, show her your love and honor through serving her with a cheerful, helpful attitude – all year long!

This is not a comprehensive list, by all means! So please shareyour ideas with us, so we can encourage, bless, and uplift our mothers together. How are you going to bless your mother this Mother’s Day?

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted...”
(Ephesians 4:32)

“Honor thy father and mother;
which is the first commandment with promise.”
(Ephesians 6:2)

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3 Comments »

BRIANNA » My sister and I are taking our mom out to lunch and to do a little shopping this Mother’s Day…and we’re taking care of all the expenses ourselves. It will be a nice little “lady’s outing”. The only hitch is that my mom will have to do the driving because I don’t have my driver’s license yet.

BETHANY » I loves this month’s monthly thought! This Mother’s day we made our Mom a bookmark with 61 reasons why our Mother is such a great mom, each of us kids gave some answers… she loved it! Thanks for all your encouragement!!! God bless, Bethany

BETHANY » Hey Sarah! I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that I really enjoyed reading your May “Monthly Thought.” The pictures are lovely and it was great to see all the ideas for blessing our mothers. It is such a wonderful thing to be good friends with our mothers. On Mother’s Day this year, my sister and I prepared a breakfast and then all of my siblings and I presented Mommy with a pot of miniature roses…one of her favorite flowers. It is so easy to take all of what Mommy does for me for granted, that is why I’m glad, too, that there is a special day for doing a little something for her! 

I have been blessed with a wonderful father. He is my hero and my noblest example of Christian manhood. I thank the Lord for giving me such a man as my spiritual and physical leader, protector, hero, priest; a father who stands up for Biblical principles.

My dad’s duty as a Christian man and a father is not easy. In fact, he carries the most weighty calling one can have. His duty calls for much, and I have been realizing how heavy that is for him. The weight of the world is on my dad’s shoulders. I don’t have to think about holding a paying job, paying the bills, being directly accountable to God, instructing children in the Lord, plus many other duties. I will never know the weight he carries or the burdens he feels each morning as he awakes. I believe the devil is after our Christian men more than anyone else, because if our men do not bear their role, then our entire society is weakened.

I have been realizing that my dad carries such responsibility, and seeing the importance of my role here in the home. I need to help him more earnestly and passionately. If a father does not have the support of his family, it is guaranteed that he cannot be as productive as when he has his entire family standing and working for his mission. If a father has the support, blessing, talents, and help of every family member, what a instrument the family unit can be in the Kingdom of God! He may then be able to impact the whole world.

I see how important the choice I make in helping my dad. If I choose to use my place in the home for the glory of God and service to my father, this will impact oh, so many! The Kingdom of God may increase as a result of my decision to honor him.

It is my desire to more fully stand behind my dad. This is not easy for me to do. Sometimes the choices that my dad makes are not what I want, sometimes his vision is different from mine; yet I must forsake my own dreams, desires, and hopes to be more supportive of him – I must, with all my energy, stand behind him. I am naturally selfish and want to pursue my own plans and desires; it is not easy to take on someone else’s passion and make it your own. But that is exactly what the Lord has called women to do, when He tells them to be helpmeets, wives, and daughters. You say it is a high price? Indeed, it is! But, this is the role of women, and what higher blessing will there be for us when we are obedient to His commands?

I have been thinking lately concerning ways I can serve my dad. There are many ways I am able to serve him, but lately, the Lord has been showing me that my attitude is more important than my physical labor. Acts are not necessarily what counts. It is my attitude. I can work all day long physically and do a list of hundreds of things for my father. But if my heart is not fully in my work, what good am I doing? All that is vain! ” Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal…And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor…and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1Co 13:1,3). Those things done without love are nothing in God’s sight.

I must begin to focus more on my attitude toward my dad, my actions to him, and make sure I am showing him the thankfulness I feel in my heart for him. Does he know that I am behind his work, supporting him? Does he know that I appreciate his diligence to get up every morning to provide for his family? Do I show him honor when he arrives hom? Do I stop and take time to talk with him when he is around? Am I someone that he actually enjoys being around? Am I living with thankfulness to my dad and all the burden he carries?

There are so many areas to go into concerning this subject of being a godly, cheerful, supportive daughter, but I will close here with a challenge to each of you daughters:

Do you show your dad every single day your appreciation for all he does for you? Are you whole-heartedly supporting him?

We, as daughters may never realize what a joy and blessing our support is to our dad. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth(3John 1:4). If he knows he has your heart, he will be strengthened to do great things.

Do you realize how significant your decision is? If you decide to stand behind your dad, your choice may literally change the world, because it will enable him to do great and mighty things.

This is the calling God has given us as daughters; this is the reward for our obedience – by far, richer any other earthly reward! What higher thing is there to pursue?

“Oh, how little do those daughters know 
Of the power which 
God has committed to them!
And the happiness that a parent’s eye
that rests on them
Bring rapture to a parent’s heart.”
-Author Unknown

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2 Comments »

SHILOH » Thank you for the wonderful MT! What a wonderful calling we daughters have to honor our fathers! Yes, our fathers have so much responsibility weighing heavily upon their shoulders and if we don’t honor them it adds to the already overloading weight…

I agree with you that the devil is after our Christian men! What you wrote reminds me of a quote by Edmund Burke. He says, “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” We daughters need to pray often against the huge battle raging against our fathers, our brothers, our Christian brothers, etc.

One other thought – when we daughters stand behind and support our fathers in their visions (in the correct attitude as Sarah mentioned) we are in training to someday (LORD willing) be standing behind our own husbands. Supporting them, following them, and encouraging them in their visions. Now is the time to prepare! So, start joyfully honoring your Daddy!

I am thankful for the Prophet, Priest, Provider, and Protector the LORD has given me and I hope each and everyone of you are too! Thank you Sarah for this timely post! I hope many daughters will greatly benefit from it!

In Christ,
~Shiloh

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BETHANY WARD »
Sarah,
How encouraging!!!!! I have begun to see the importance of this very important subject, thanks for sharing with us!!!
May God bless,
Bethany

“A friend loveth at all times, & a brother is born for adversity .”
~Proverbs 17:17

Sitting by a window in her favorite chair, sunlight streamed in onto the pink stationery. Lily’s pen briskly glided over the paper as she related her family’s latest news to her best pen-friend. As she wrote, her little brother came stomping in from his play and ran over to Lily, breaking the peaceful silence. “Lily, I made the biggest tree fort! Come look, and take a picture of it for me!” Lily looked up from her paper, still deep in thought, and brushed Johnny aside, “I’m busy right now. Don’t interrupt! I lost my train of thought. I’ll be out later.” With a little more persuasion, Johnny left the room.

But be assured that this little brother will not come many more times to tell “big sister” about his news…and she will never become his confident if she continues to ignore his cares.

As Sue was talking with some friends, she kept a close eye on her little siblings romping about in the fresh grass. Occasionally, her little two-year-old brother waved his sand shovel, looking over at his big sis. She cheerfully called, “Hey, what do you have there?!” and he giggled. Joining in the conversation again with her friends, she would add a bit of input, but always keeping a watch on her little charges. As her friend Flossie showed her some pictures from a recent trip, Sue noticed her three-year-old sister fall from the swing. “Oh,” she jumped up, “Are you ok,” she called as she went to her sister’s rescue. “I cut my finger!” Little Bekah responded, looking fearfully at the blood. “Oh no, let me see. Ouch! Let’s go fix it up with a band aid!” Calling over to her friends as she heads inside with Bekah, “I’ll be back in a bit!”

Rachel was watching things at the house while her mother and a few siblings went to town. She tidied up the house, folded the laundry, and talked with her siblings who were at home with her. Soon, the van drove in the driveway and she cry sounds through the house, “Mom’s home!” As everyone rushed in, her siblings ran up to Rachel, squealing and climbing on her. “Guess what!” They announced their news and told the events that happened on their short time away from her. “Oh, how fun! Tell me about it!” Rachel interacted and inquired about their news, obviously enjoying their return.

The first example is my natural reaction to give my siblings when they come rushing in with their big news. I do not like to be interrupted.

Yet, as I have witnessed the two last example stories, the Lord has convicted me that I need to show more love and concern for my siblings! I need to serve my younger siblings, take time to listen to their news and latest projects, interact with them when they come to tell me something they are doing. The Lord has been showing me how important it is to stop what I am doing, look at them in the eyes, answer them, listen to them, and help them if needed.

Jesus Himself was a servant of mankind, and He stopped to bless the little children! “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me”(Matthew 19:14). We should too take time to stop and listen to our little sisters tell about her new baby doll, our brothers’ newest Lego truck invention. We should not only listen, but also interact with them–even if we know nothing about building cool Lego trucks with our brothers! We need to show our siblings that we are there to hear them and demonstrate a desire to share in their interests.

It is easy for me to get in the habit of thinking my siblings are there to help me, since I am older; but just when I rebuke them for not honoring me when I ask them for something, God reminds me that I should instead be serving them! I, being the elder, need to set an example for them that glorifies the Lord. Jesus served the most humble on heart; I must follow His example.

Not only our caring heart will be a blessing, but our words to our siblings also have a great ability to bless their lives and encourage. Something I have been remembering lately is that something little to me may mean a whole lot to my younger siblings; one smile or a few words of encouragement could brighten their day and mean more than I think. A few extra minutes to write a note to a sibling means more to them than it ever took us to do the act! We must be careful in our actions and words, because they can also hurt very quickly…every word should be weighed. An especially harsh word for some failure or a few wrong words such as, “What is wrong with you? You’ve done that two times already today!” can hurt more than we ever mean to. You can probably think back right now and remember when someone hurt you with just a few careless words that greatly wounded you. Let us remember how much influence we carry with our actions and words to our siblings.

Do your siblings cherish being around you? Are you the sister that your siblings miss when away, or are the glad for a few minutes out from under your critical eye? Are you their confident—are you “the family daughter”? Let us be sisters of love and care.

Sarah Bryant

6 | C O M M E N T S :

Ashley Caldwell: Usually telling someone to wait is not even an option for me. The value of listening to little ones/siblings was impressed upon me long ago, when an elder girl listened to me while my family was at her family’s house, but after the visit never expressed an interest in me again. Oh, it burned. I will always remember that time when I deal with little ones/siblings. I will always remember that it gives a glow of joy to little ones, to have a much-looked-up-to girl spend time playing with them and patiently answering their questions. Writing letters and such will ultimately not matter, but one who invests time into others will be richly rewarded.

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Sarah Bryant: Thank you very much for the encouragement and insight there, Ashley. How much we older girls inpact those younger…something that is vital yet sometimes in everyday life hard to remember. I also can recall many times when I have felt rejected by other girls and how that hurts. But as a sister we must be on guard even more constantly. Siblings are around us all the time and patience truly is a virtue.

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Shiloh S.: Hello from the eldest in the house and also the big sister! :D Wow! The last paragraph of questions are really thought provoking! I know at times I am like Rachel and Sue, but then yes, there are times when I’ve been like Lily… It’s amazing the tiny things I’ve done for my siblings (like putting the cat away for a sister). It was an easy passing by task for me to do, but it was such a blessing to her! She sent me a Thank you note in return and in the end I was blessed back! I can see especially in my life how I need to take care of my actions and words (especially words!). Simple little statements can hurt someone deeply. One of the last questions: do your siblings cherish you? I think that’s something all of us big sisters really need to look at… Do they enjoy being around us? Are we kind and loving to them? Are we a godly example? Being a big sister has great God given responsibilities! I pray I will live up to them as will all other big sisters! Press on dear sisters in the LORD! ~Shiloh 

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Samantha P.: I agree with Sarah, Ashley, and Shiloh! We so often overlook the eternal impact that time spent investing in our siblings’ lives has. You never know how much longer you have with your siblings! Don’t let a day slip by without telling them how much you love them and care for them. It shouldn’t just be words, though, show them by your actions!! Take the time to listen to them and play with them ~ it isn’t something you grow out of. =) It is so easy to say, “I’ll spend time with them another day… I have plenty of time… after all, I live with them!” And yet “you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14) None of us know how much longer we have on this earth~ let us remember what is important while we are still here! Let us encourage, strenghten, and uphold our families as their corner-pillars.

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Bekah: Since I don’t have siblings, I don’t completely feel what you do. But I do know that it is just as important to interact with your parents as with brothers and sisters! They can become close friends ~ I think my Mom is like my best friend! We talk about everything and enjoy doing things together. Even if that is only peeling carrots. :) I encourage you to talk to your folks- if they don’t mind you chattering on, do so! :) If they don’t have much time (like my Dad), then have them write short notes for you when they do have time! I leave quotes for my Dad on his Bible now and then, or pack treats in his lunch. He leaves notes on the table for Mom and I. :)Simple but special! Love to each of you, Rebekah

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Sarah: Rebekah, what a wonderful idea! So true, our parents should be our best friends as well. I am blessed to hear and see your relationship with your parents. It is vital to be able to share with them everything and be trusted by them. Thanks for the thoughts for us!!

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Shiloh: I really liked Samantha’s thought on this subject. Especially the part about not letting a day go by without remembering to remind your siblings that you love them… Bekah & Sarah, what interesting thoughts! I think our parents should be some of our best friends. Thank you for sharing your thought – it is an encouragement to continue to bless others!

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Bekah: I had yet another thought on relationships with our parents. It helps to let your parents know what you are thinking and a way to do this is to actually talk to them!! Even if it is only simple things like gardening and building a shed, you can understand each other better if you taken the time to communicate. My Dad and I don’t often talk (we have what you call a silent understanding – comes from being a LOT alike :)), but my Mom and I are always having discussions! We usually end up being sidetracked from what we are doing. :) And if there are any parents reading this, to you I want to say, take the time to talk to your kids, and let them tell you what they are thinking! How are you going to ever understand them if you don’t listen to their thoughts? God bless y’all!

“But charge Joshua,
and encourage him,
and strengthen him:
for he shall go over before this people :
and he shall cause them to inherit the land
which thou shalt see.”
~Deut. 3:28

SHILOH » Incredible Sarah! My Daddy is always reminding me that the way I treat my brother is the way I will treat my (Lord willing) future husband. It’s encouraging to read an older sister’s thoughts on how to encourage her younger brothers to manly traits—something I need to work on more! I always enjoy reading your monthly Thoughts!

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ASLHEY CALDWELL » Sarah, I can confirm that the way one’s brothers act is a direct relation to how their sister treats them. For many years I was quite “independent” and treated them very badly. Unfortunately, I was under the wrong impression the my brothers were the ones treating me badly, and that I had to “get back” at them. =) As a young teen I realized my error and started treating them as I would like to be treated if I were in their place. It took time and many “bitten tongue” moments on my part, but it certainly worked. My brothers are my best friends now.

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SHILOH » I just wanted to thank Ashley for sharing her testimony! This part “Unfortunately, I was under the wrong impression the my brothers were the ones treating me badly, and that I had to “get back” at them. =)” Really spoke to me! Thank you so much, Ashley!

I thought maybe for a future MT you could write about what you think about young ladies going to college and along those lines… Something like: ” Thoughts on What to do Once You Graduate”…

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MAGGIE B. » Hello Sarah! I just wanted to add my thanks for this ‘monthly thought’ about how we ought to treat our brothers. I have often struggled with this too…all your thoughts really encouraged me. Thank you!

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SAMANTHA P. » I really appreciated your monthly thought for July, about encouraging our brothers! Good point!