A Mother’s Sacrifice

Some thoughts for Mother’s Day

Scene 1: Three girls are walking down the street. They spot a disfigured woman. Scars cover her face and arms. The girls engage in ridiculing remarks. “Look at that ugly woman.” “She ought to stay off the street.” “I wouldn’t want to be seen dead with her!” Laughter and derision mark their attitudes, although one girl seems uncomfortable. Their comments are loud enough to be heard by the woman. She glances at them with obvious pain and hurt, but says nothing.

Scene 2: Same girls, same location; different response from one of them. After two of the girls indulge in derogatory remarks the third one speaks up with passion. “That is my mother! When I was only four she risked her life to save me from a burning building. In the course of protecting me her face and hands were severely burned. I owe my life to her and I love her. Every scar on her body is precious to me!” The other two girls were embarrassed and humiliated. A major decision faced them. They had to choose between deep, humbling apologies and requests for forgiveness, or else walk away and scoff at the girl who spoke up.

Few mothers have had to endure the rebuff of scene one, but many mothers have given significant, self-sacrificing acts of love that have not been appreciated. A big Mother’s Day ‘thank you’ for the sacrifices they have made for us.

Come to think of it, Jesus did much more than gather scars. He died for us to pay for wrongs He did not commit. We can reject Him, ignore Him or thank Him. Which will it be?

Thankfulness is found on the sunny side,

Henry Wiebe