Man-Up on Mother’s Day

Dad, leading your family to celebrate Mother’s Day is one of the best things you can do as the leader of your home and one of the most beneficial acts you can do for your church. I want you to be thoughtful and impressive and memory-making. If you are a believer, God’s reputation is enhanced in your family—and Mother’s Day provides a a window of opportunity for His glory. Let me suggest that you:

1. Get a plan—and let her know you are planning. Gather the kids away from her and think about what you might want to honor her during the next few days. Announce that you are having a MOTHER’S DAY PLANNING MEETING. It will make her feel like she has your attention—and this is what she wants! She wants to know that you think about her; she will be blessed to know that you are helping your children to think about her, too. Showing that you can be organized for her benefit will establish a pattern for your children to organize their lives to honor her. Your robust leadership around Mother’s Day may provide a rationale for your children to obey your wife in your absence all year long.

2. Sacrifice in some way. Spend some money, do an act of service, work. If you can work hard in your job but do not show much zeal for your wife around Mother’s Day you should take a long look in the mirror. If there is something that would really bless her, and you can afford it, do it. If you can’t afford it now, establish a plan for how you might—and then share that plan with her on Mother’s Day, with a down payment. If there is something that you can fix, improve, build, paint, et., now might be the time. Maybe cook for her on Mother’s Day. Just a little relational sweat will go along way to honoring her. Should you have the kids involved? Yes! Their sacrifice for her magnifies the joy she will feel on Mother’s Day.

3. Give her something to look forward to. If you give a gift card, stipulate that on a specific date you and/or the kids will take her shopping to use the card. On Mother’s Day give her tickets to an event that you and/or the kids will later enjoy with her. In this way you give two gifts in one: the actual item on Mother’s Day, and the fulfillment of that gift at a later date. Or is it actually three gifts? A third: anticipation! She wants something to look forward to!

4. Use words. Write her a note, or create and write your own Mother’s Day card. Be sure to have the kids make cards for her! You might use a meal time to have the kids share something they appreciate about her in the last year. Or you could use a meal time to interview your wife about being a mom (What do you currently enjoy about being a mom? What was your first reaction when you found out you were expecting? How did your mom most impact you? et.)

5. Lead in family worship each day through the weekend. Gather everyone for a few minutes, Bibles in tow, read together, pray and sing. If you are in the midst of a family worship plan, you may want to veer for a few days and think about motherhood in the NT (Ephesians 5-6; Colossians 3-4; Titus 2) or read the famous Proverbs 31. Perhaps you are not consistently leading family worship; no better time to start than Mother’s Day! By consistently leading in family worship you are submitting your home to the Lordship of Christ—and establishing a foundation of peaceful, fruitful, evangelistic family life.

This is not an exhaustive list, but these five ideas may prime the pump. Your manliness this Mother’s Day will serve as a catalyst for fellowship in your family and church for the months to come.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME DELAYED START SUNDAY

Don't lose any sleep over it! We have a delayed start on Sunday, March 10, 2024

EH/MK 10:30-11:20
Worship: 11:30-1:00