"For Mom"

It’s been six years since Mom went home,

I miss her everyday,

It’s often that I see her face,

Hear words she used to say.

Her faith in Jesus sure and strong,

The first to let me know,

That He died and rose again,

And that He loved me so.

Said she gave me to the Lord,

The night I was conceived,

Thought He said that I would preach,

At least what she believed.

And so she never was surprised,

When only as a boy,

I felt God calling way back then,

It filled her heart with joy.

She prayed for me as mothers do,

And when I went astray,

Reminded me of what God said,

And knew for sure one day,

I’d come back and follow Him,

And that’s just what I did,

Restored to what He said at first,

When I was just a kid.

Mom lived a long and happy life,

Died when she was ninety-four,

I know her victory was complete,

When she reached heaven’s shore.

And after we had said good-bye,

And honored her just right,

I spent some time alone in prayer,

And on that very night,

In my mind a waking dream,

I never will forget,

I saw my Mom in heaven,

I still can see her yet.

Mom loved the horses that we rode,

She watched as we’d go,

But she was never horseback,

I’m sure that I would know.

But young and vibrant, there she was,

A-galloping along,

With heaven’s sunshine in her hair,

Absolutely nothing wrong.

And Jesus rode beside her,

They were laughing as they went,

And there’s no doubt about it,

It was something heaven-sent.

So thank you, Mom, and thank You, Jesus,

For the love you gave to me,

I will be forever grateful,

And will live life thankfully.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12, NKJV)

Honoring our parents is done to show reverence and respect for God’s plan in our lives. The people who gave us life may or may not be worthy. But God calls us to honor them for His sake, and the divine order, image and authority that is entrusted to them. Perhaps your parents gave you a great handicap in life. If you were blessed with godly folks they gave you a big headstart. Some of us got a mixed bag at best. But the point is that no matter what they did or did not do, we are called to honor the Lord. We learn because of them or in spite of them. But God’s forever family transcends all others.

Lord, teach us to live thankfully and honor You, in Jesus’ name.