May 8 is Mother’s Day. It had many precursors in American history before Anna Jarvis created it in 1908 and worked to make it a national holiday in 1914. The idea of Mother’s Day creates an array of responses ranging from maudlin sentimentality to outright hatred. It is lamented as nothing more than a commercial scheme to make money and lauded as a special day to remember, honor and give tribute to mothers.

The Bible in Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:2 admonishes us to honor our fathers and mothers. That certainly means more than just one day, but it does not exclude a day we set aside to especially honor and recognize mothers.

My mother will turn 86 in September. I have lots of memories of her that touch my heart with gratitude. She was kind, patient, caring, giving, comforting, encouraging and involved. When I was an elementary school kid, she paid special attention to my grooming and made sure I was neatly dressed before school each day. When she came to pick us up from school, I am sure she was shocked at the transformation that had taken place in just a few hours!

She loved holidays and family. She was faithful in church, even when I did embarrassing things like lock the preacher and his class in a room during Vacation Bible School. She was present for every significant event in my life. Her love and devotion was obvious.

She has lived with Alzheimer’s, often referred to as the “disease of the long goodbye,” for more than eight years. She still speaks, but most of her words are not really words. When I visit her, she does not know who I am. She has osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and has fallen twice, resulting in a broken hip and broken shoulder. She cannot walk or feed herself. Her hands are fixed in a clutched position.

Before the Alzheimer’s had worsened, I talked with her about her relationship with Jesus Christ. She assured me she was born again. Even though I have a voice that resembles a sick bullfrog, I began to sing “Amazing Grace.” To my surprise she joined in and sang it with me. Even though I was unaware of it at the time, my wife recorded the whole scene on her cell phone.

Recently, one of her caretakers at the facility where she lives asked me if she had three children. Apparently, she had been talking about her three children. She gave birth to three children, but I am the only survivor. However, that question stimulated my thoughts and memories, and I believe that she carried sadness in her heart over the two children who are buried next to my dad. She wanted a family with several children, but her doctor advised her not to have any more children. I am confident that she will be reunited with all her children one day.

Until that time, it is my desire to honor my mother as the Scripture teaches us to do. I miss my mother’s love of holidays and birthdays, and her enjoyment of her grandchildren. She is unaware she has great-grandchildren. My mother was the inspiration behind the book I wrote, “Worry: The Silent Killer.” When I was worried about something, she would tell me not to worry because most of the things we worry about never happen. As it turns out, she was right.

This Mother’s Day, remember the mother you had or spend some time with the mother you still have. I hope my mother has been honored by at least some of my life as I have tried to follow Christ Jesus. She deserves it, and she will always have a special place in my heart. Looking back over a lifetime, I am so grateful for the mother God gave me.

I hope you have a blessed Mother’s Day.