The Twelve Apologies To Mother

Intro. Most mothers handle an awful lot. Mine did. A favorite saying they (both parents) would use when they punished me was "you will understand this better when you have children of your own". I thought they were lying, but that turns out to be oh so very true. In fact, I’ve noticed a lot of wisdom in some of their sayings as I have wrestled with problems of parenting.

We should not honor mothers one time out of the year. That would be a shame and an empty farce. They deserve better and more, and sometimes they are willing to take little gestures when they should be exalted far higher than we give them credit for when we are immature.

As I have grown older, I look back, see what a difficult time I have had in making decisions regarding my children, and look further back to understand how hard I must have made it for my parents. This being the world’s tribute day to mothers, I would like to cause reflection in a more significant way. If any wisdom can be gained from the following twelve apologies, I know our time will have been well served.

To my mother, I apologize for:

1. TAKING FOR GRANTED YOUR SACRIFICES TO PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLE AND CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS.

Remember Jimmy Dean’s "I.O.U"???

True thankfulness should be practiced daily at home. Just think of how blessed you may have been.

2. ALWAYS PUSHING FOR MY SELFISH DESIRES AND NOT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR RULES BASED ON LOVE, CONCERN, AND WISDOM OF EXPERIENCE.

1. Prov. 6:20-26
2. Prov.10:1

3. CHOOSING SOME WORLDLY FRIENDS AND VALUING THEM MORE THAN THE ONES WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR ME.

1. Prov.1:10,15-19; 12:26; 13:20
2. 1 Cor.15:33; 1 Jno.2:15-17;
3. Prov.23:19-22

4. CAUSING YOU TO WORRY ABOUT MY LIFE WHILE I ACTED LIKE MY LIFE WAS INVINCIBLE.

1. Prov.27:1 2. Jas.4:14

5. ACTING LIKE YOU DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING WHEN YOU HAD ALL THE YEARS OF YOUR PARENT’S INSTRUCTIONS, THE WISDOM GAINED ALONG THE WAY, ALL MY LIFE AND EXPERIENCES TO BOOT.

1. Prov.4:1-13
2. Prov. 12:1,15

6. ACTING LIKE YOU OWED ME EVERY FREEDOM WHILE I OWED YOU NOTHING.

1. Prov.20:11
2. Prov.28:24

7. ROLLING MY EYES EVERY TIME YOU SAID "YOU’LL UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN".

1. Prov.18:1-2
2. Prov.19:26

8. THINKING I KNEW ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW WHEN YOU WANTED ME TO APPLY MYSELF TO MY STUDIES.

1. Prov.23:15,16
2. Prov.2:10-13

9. SOMETIMES ABUSING THE FREEDOM AND TRUST YOU EXTENDED TO ME.

Prov.28:13

10. THINKING YOU SHOULD LABOR AND WORK IN HONORABLE WAYS WHILE I IRRESPONSIBLY DID THINGS TO DISHONOR THE FAMILY NAME.

Prov.22:1

11. FAILING TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU LIKE I SHOULD.

Prov.13:24

12. NOT APPRECIATING THE DIFFICULTY OF YOUR POSITION AS PARENTS LIKE I SHOULD HAVE.

1. Prov.15:5
2. Read -"The Meanest Mother".

Conclusion: I apologize for all these things. I now realize that I was so very fortunate. I love the memories of my childhood because it was a time when I did not carry the load, nor did I perceive or understand what a load it was for my parents. I’m sure my mother found moments of pleasure and joy in me, but I know now that I should have given back so much more than I did. But, as Jimmy Dean says, I know that for all the things I owe her for, she would mark the bill "paid in full", because a mother’s love will cover a multitude of sins. God bless good, God-conscious, God-fearing, and resilient mothers.

By Terry W. Benton

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