“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Tim. 1:5

Mother’s Day is especially big business for card companies, florists and restaurants. Introduced by Anna Jarvis in 1908 as a memorial to her mother, she was successful in getting Congress to make it an official US holiday in 1914, signed by President Woodrow Wilson. By the 1920’s she was already disappointed by the commercialization that had developed. Imagine what she would think today!

Anna Jarvis had one purpose in mind. She wanted families to stop and give honor to those who had brought them in this world. In fact, she specifically noted noted that ‘Mother’s’ should be “a singular possessive, for each family to honour their mother,” not a plural possessive (Mothers’). She wanted it to be a very personal day, rather than a generic celebration of mothers in general.

Mothers and grandmothers, you are worthy of honor, and none more than godly grandmothers and mothers! So while our attempts to honor you on Mother’s Day may sometimes seem rather pathetic—not to minimize how nice flowers and cards, or taking you out to dinner at a nice restaurant may be—I think we can do better. For all us sons and daughters whose mothers are still living, here are a few ideas for making Mother’s Day a real tribute to our moms—not just an excuse to go out for dinner.

1. If you gather for dinner at a family home, assume responsibility for making dinner and cleaning up. Make her a lemonade (or a mocha latte smoothie) and tell her to take a load off her feet.

2. During or after dinner, all the sons and daughters take turns sharing a personal “eulogy” extolling the qualities they most appreciate about Mom and Grandma. (Why do we wait till a person’s funeral to do this?) Husbands, this is a perfect opportunity for you to express your gratitude for the special qualities your wife has displayed as a mom to your children. If your mom and grandmother are long distance, write it out and send it to them, or call on the phone and tell them.

3. After the eulogizing, gather around the moms and grandmothers in your family, lay hands on them, and speak a blessing over them. You may even want to write out a special blessing that all the family says together.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I think that would be a Mother’s Day Mom and Grandma would not forget. And I think God would smile too.

To all you mothers and grandmothers out there, may God bless you and make you like Lois and Eunice who fan the flame of faith from one generation to another!

GRANDPAUSE: “I regard no man as poor who has a godly mother.” –Abraham Lincoln