“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31 NIV
Mother’s Day would seem to be as non-controversial as any holiday could be. But I have known people who dread it. All the talk about thanking mothers or celebrating mothers is like fingernails on a chalk board for them because their own mother was abusive or absent. The same thing happens on Father’s Day for those who had a difficult relationship with their dad and on Valentine’s Day for those who have had their hearts broken. There’s probably not a holiday that someone doesn’t associate with pain.
I do not mean to diminish that hurt, but I would like to suggest a way to turn those holidays into something positive. Instead of focusing on what someone did or didn’t do to you, choose instead to focus on what you can do for others. Be what you want to see. Be the mother you wished you had. Be the father you never had. Be the spouse or friend worthy of valentines.
In fact, the same could be said of most any holiday. Be the thankful person you want to see at Thanksgiving. Be the one who remembers on Memorial Day. Be the one who turns over a new leaf on New Year’s Day. Be a groundhog on Groundhog’s Day…okay, maybe I’m stretching the analogy too far. But each of us have a choice every day. We can dwell on disappointments and hurts from the past or we can choose to be for others what we didn’t have ourselves.
God bless your week.
Pastor Mark
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – Luke 6:31 NIV