Be Gentle Like a Mother

Mother's Day has been noted as the busiest day for restaurants and near the top for flower deliveries and sale of cards. It appeared true, yesterday, in spite of the torrential downpour that hit Ankeny about noon yesterday. Hopefully your Mother's Day was blessed with good times, good food, and lots of love shared.

It is interesting that Paul references the gentle love of a mother caring for her children, as the same kind of care we should have for our fellow church family members.

"We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us," (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NIV).

Paul writes back to the church in Thessalonica, that he established earlier, to offer encouragement and to remind them of the gentle correction they should share with each other. In our churches we need to hold each other accountable, in a manner such as a mother gently corrects her straying children.

The scriptures offer the standard for us to follow in living our lives within the church, as well as outside of the church. But sometimes we forget to bring the same kindness we show our co-workers or neighbors, back into the church with us.

I'm quite sure my boys would tell you I wasn't always gentle with correction. I'm not a perfect mother; I'm a sinner. But, I place my hope in Jesus Christ as do my fellow believers. Let us all be reminded to speak gently, with compassionate love, to members of our family and church family every day.

Together we share life.

Gently learning and growing,

As we follow Jesus.