Happy Mother’s Day

In the year 1140 the German village of Weinsberg was under siege. The ruler of Weinsberg sent a message to his people that they would soon surrender. The conquering army would allow all the women and children safe passage out of the village. But the women of Weinsberg sent back a message requesting that each be allowed to take her most valued possession. Duke Frederick of Swabia, leader of the invading army agreed to the women’s terms. So, the next morning every woman in Weinsberg lined up and prepared to leave the village. In each woman’s arms was her most valuable possession—her husband. Emperor Konrad, the brother of Duke Frederick, was so touched by the women’s devotion that he ended the war between Weinsberg and Swabia. The castle was thereafter known as the Hill of Women’s Fidelity.

It is appropriate to acknowledge on this Mother’s Day that the sacrificial love of women has perhaps been the chief civilizing influence in society throughout the ages. Truthfully, when most of us think about sacrificial love—the kind of love that Jesus called his disciples to embody—we picture our mothers or our wives. The impact of a mother’s love on her children and husband is often life-changing.

Jesus spoke of sacrificial love when he said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…And I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:14-15). The picture we have here is that of a shepherd who cares so much for his sheep that he is willing to die for them. Of course, Jesus is not talking about sheep, is he? He’s talking about you and me. Jesus was willing to give up his very life in our behalf.

Mothers are so good at affirming their children. From the very beginning of a child’s life most mothers give their children lots of affirmation. Have you ever thought of the cross as being the ultimate act of affirmation? It is. It says to us, “We matter.” It says, “God loves us so much that Jesus would die on our behalf.” That is the greatest affirmation anyone could ever receive.

When Christ admonished us that we should “Love one another as I have loved you,” who knew that mothers would be the ultimate example of that kind of love? Perhaps we should all strive to be more like Jesus by following the example of our mothers, and living our lives sacrificially loving those around us.