Next Sunday is Mothers’ Day when we pay tribute to all the moms who have given so much and deserve to be praised. In anticipation of Mothers’ Day, I want to pay tribute to the grandest of moms—grandmothers, moms twice or more. In myestimation grandmothers are worthy of special honor and recognition.

One high school senior from Ohio did an amazing thing to honor his great-grandmother this past week. You may have already heard about it.

It was prom night, and instead of asking a young, attractive girl from his class to be his date at prom, he took his 89-year-old great grandmother! As a teenager, she never had the opportunity to go to prom, so her great-grandson, Austin, decided to share the experience. After picking out a prom dress, grandmother Delores accompanied Austin as his prom date. He also arranged to dance with her as the band played Frank Sinatra’s song. “How I Love the Kisses of Delores”. It was a song Delores’ husband used to sing to her frequently.

Most of the major news outlets picked up the story this week. Click here to see a video clip of this incredible tribute by this young man.

We may not all be able to take our grandmothers to prom, but we can find ways to honor those magnificent women this Mothers’ Day who are still living and have made such a valuable contribution to our lives. When I think of the ‘grand moms’ of history, one especially stands out to me. She was the great-grandmother of King David. Her name was Ruth—a rare kind of woman in her day.

Ruth was not an Israelite. She was from the neighboring country of Moab—not exactly on Israel’s most favored list. Yet here was a woman of unimpeachable character. She stood by her mother-in-law, Naomi, when it would have been to her advantage, logically, to stay in her own country rather than face the prospects of living in a foreign land as a woman. Nevertheless she chose to honor her mother-in-law and to trust God to provide by staying with Naomi. I would have to say that her faith was more genuine than most Israelites. That’s why the writer of Hebrews listed her in his Hall of Faith.

This is a story of a truly remarkable woman who would become a great grandmother in the truest sense of the term great. I often wonder if David knew her. If he had, do you suppose he would have taken her to the prom—or maybe his bar-mitzvah?

My hat is off to all you faithful and godly grandmothers out there who make Christ look great in the eyes of your grandchildren. May the Lord bless you and make you like Ruth and Naomi, who blessed each other and became an indescribable blessing to generations afterward. May His favor rest upon you and be gracious unto you, and may you sit in a place of honor among your children and grandchildren for the love you have given and the truth you have lived to the glory of God.

Happy (Grand) Mothers’ Day!

What could you do to give special honor to the grandmothers and great grandmothers in your family this Mothers’ Day? I’d like to hear your stories, so please share them.