May 9, 2025

The Importance of Honoring Our Mothers 

In America, on this upcoming Sunday, we will celebrate our Moms.

Exodus 20:12 lists the fifth of the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” 

Ephesians 6:2-3 echoes the commandment: “Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

An article on the website CompellingTruth.org shares interesting insights on honoring our parents:

“What does it mean to ‘honor’ one’s parents? In the Old Testament, the word translated honor is the Hebrew kabad. It means to be heavy, weighty, rich, and glorious. In other words, our parents should be a significant priority in our lives. They should not be ignored or taken lightly. Our choices should take their needs and wishes into serious consideration.

“The Greek word used for honor in Ephesians 6:2 is timao. It means to determine the value of something; in this case, determining that the value is high. We should give our parents a high value, even higher than those in ministry (Mark 7:9-13), and treat them accordingly.

“What, specifically, does this look like? Basically, we are to take every passage that describes how we should treat others and apply it to our parents. Love them with agape love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Treat them with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Speak of them and to them with respect (Ephesians 4:29). Forgive them wholeheartedly (Matthew 18:21-22). And seek reconciliation when issues and misunderstandings get in the way (Matthew 18:15-17).”(1)

Interesting thoughts. Our late friend, Quin Sherrer, shared some great insights a while back on honoring mothers, and on the history of this special day:

“Did you notice that mother is singular in Mother’s Day? Special honor for YOUR special mom. You shower her with hugs and gifts. A phone call. Maybe even a meal out.

“On Mother’s Day, you may honor your birth mom, an adoptive mom, foster mom, stepmom, grandmother, or even an aunt who ‘mothered’ you. Or perhaps you thank a special “spiritual” mom who taught and encouraged you in your Christian walk. I’m glad there is a day set aside nationally to pay tribute to them.

History of Mother’s Day

“In America, the ‘original’ Mother’s Day was observed in St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908 - spearheaded by Anna Jarvis as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.(2)

“On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national day to honor motherhood on the second Sunday of every May. In his first proclamation, he stated that ‘the holiday offered a chance to [publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’ He also saw it as a way to honor mothers who had lost sons during World War I.(3)

“‘Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’(4) 

“Restaurants report it as their best day of the year. More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year. We do it to honor those women who loved us - and put up with us - all those years. We display flags, wear white carnations, buy gifts, and take mom out to eat.”(5) 

“What about those of us who no longer have our precious moms with us? We can still remember and honor them by thanking God for their sacrifices, influence, and prayers.

“Have you thought about sending a note of appreciation to a mom who influenced you? Maybe they counseled or prayed for you during a difficult season of your life? Or encouraged you in your career, or Christian journey? Perhaps someone else’s mom, who took time to care for you? Cards and phone calls can brighten their day and make them feel appreciated and special.”

Signs of Motherhood

I thought I would attempt to bring a few smiles to the moms joining me today. In the book Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, Liane Kupferberg Carter shares an article listing several signs in moms that indicate what she refers to as “Advanced Mommydom.” (Don’t worry that you don’t understand some of these, guys. Just defer to the ladies.) Liane states:

“You know you’ve crossed the threshold into advanced mommydom when:

• You count the sprinkles on each kid’s cupcake to make sure they’re equal.

• You hide in the bathroom to be alone.

• Your child throws up, and you catch it.

• You’ve mastered the art of placing large quantities of pancakes and eggs on a plate without anything touching.

• You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it’s the only one your child eats.

• You can’t bear the thought of your son’s first girlfriend.

• You find yourself cutting your husband’s sandwiches into unusual shapes.

• You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi’s mother.

• You become a member of three aquariums because your kid loves sharks.

• You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, “Not in your good clothes!”

• You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.

• You use your own saliva to clean your child’s face.

• You say at least once a day, “I’m not cut out for this job,” but you know you wouldn’t trade it for anything.”(6)

Honor a mother this week, especially this Sunday. You’ll be glad you did.

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our mothers who brought us into this world. We are so grateful for them and the sacrifices they made to see us through our good seasons as well as our trying ones, challenging times as well as triumphant and joyous times. Show us creative ways to honor them. And help us teach our children and grandchildren how to bless the mothers and grandmothers who have gone before them, especially for those who left footsteps of faith for them to follow. 

For the last couple of decades, it seems that we in America have failed to teach the important principle of honor. Whether it be our nation, its flag, our military, others who sacrifice for us, or even our fellow man in general, we have lost ground in this area. Help us to recover it. You told us to “in honor, prefer one another” (Romans 12:10) and give “honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:17). This is not an insignificant issue to You.

And lastly, we honor You above all others. Thank You for Your love and blessings. And all of this we pray in the name of Your great Son and our Savior, Jesus. Amen. 

Our decree:

We declare that we will honor our parents, as God has instructed us to do. 

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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1. Www.Compellingtruths.org  

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day

3. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-proclaims-the-first-mothers-day-holiday

4. Ibid.

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day

6. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff, Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.), pp. 135-137.