I am a solid believer in the "old fashioned" concept of the family; that is, father, mother, and children.  Extended family is gravy on top of the nuclear family.  The nuclear family is the solid nucleus of our entire society.  When the family erodes, then the culture erodes.  I am perfectly willing to grant you that single parent families are valid and that single person families are valid.  But the bread and butter for us is the nuclear family.  No question about it.  The more we get back to that model of family the better you will see conditions becoming for our children, young people, and for society in general.

In that context, I am happy to say that this Sunday is Mother's Day.  Nowhere in the Bible is there any prescription for us to celebrate Mother's Day (or Father's Day, either) in the church.  This celebration was the idea of some enterprising person years ago.  Naturally, the commercial world is cashing in on the financial transactions associated with Mother's Day.  All of that having been said, we come back to a strong affirmation and belief in the importance of Mother in  the home. 

Traditionally MOther has been the home maker.  In recent years some men have tried on that role.  Some are  even pretty successful at it.  Generally, however, Mother is the person best suited to be the home maker.  That is not to relegate her to second class status.  Unfortunately some women today believe that if they are not getting a salary, then the job or work is not important.  NOT TRUE!  We pay lots of money to other people to step in and fulfill the role of Mother.  For example, a nanny who is hired to look after the children while MOther is away working costs a lot of money.  Someone to clean the house costs money; someone to cook for the family and look after the children until Mother gets home costs money.

But the true importance of Mother herself is that Father and children just don't do as well when there is no Mother in the home.  Mother is strong, and her strength is needed by everyone else.  I disagree with anyone who claims that Mothers are weak and Fathers strong.  No, I think both are strong in their own right and in their own way.  Mother tends to be emotionally strong and spiritually strong.  Other family members need this strength.  Fathers can be emotionally and spiritually strong as well.  Fathers are usually physically and mentally strong.  Mothers can be strong in these ways, also, but we need the good blend of both to ensure the needed strength in the home.

What would make Mother happy this Sunday?  I suppose it depends on the Mother.  Traditionally flowers, jewelry, a meal out in a restaurant with family, a telephone call from family members, cards, emails, personal visits are greatly appreciated.  I suspect that more than these, that which will make Mother the happiest is for the vows and promises which she makes to God with regard to her children to be fulfilled.  When we the children of our Mothers respond to the leading of the Lord in our lives, the results are those things which may make our Mothers happiest of all.  When Hannah gave birth to Samuel, she dedicated him to the Lord for the remainder of his life.  She was content with the resultant career of Israel's last great judge and the instrument by which God brought first Saul and then David to the kingship of Israel.