First Baptist Church of Vineland, NJ

Welcoming, Witnessing & Winning for the Kingdom of God

May 2000

As we remember our mothers this month, I thought it appropriate to share something that I found in The Evangelical Beacon some time ago.

A Mother's Paraphrase of I Corinthians 13

Though I speak with the language of the educators and the psychiatrists and have not love, I am become as blaring brass or a crashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of planning my child's future and understanding of all the mysteries of the child's mind and have ample knowledge of teenagers, and though I have all faith in my children, so that I could remove their mountains of doubts and fears and have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed and nourish them properly (vitamins and all), and though I give my body to back breaking housework and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

Love is patient with the naughty child and is kind to him or her. Love does not envy when they want to move to Grandma's house because, "She is nice."

Love is not anxious to impress a teenager with our superior knowledge.

Love has good manners in the home - does not act selfishly or with a martyr complex, is not easily provoked by normal childish actions.

Love does not remember the naughtiness of yesterday and love thinks no evil - it gives the child the benefit of the doubt.

Love does not make light of sin in the child's life (or in her own, either), but rejoices when the child comes to a knowledge of the truth!

Love does not fail.  Whether there be comfortable surroundings, they shall fail, whether there be total communication between parents and children, it will cease, whether there be good education, it shall vanish away.

When we were children, we spoke and acted and understood as children, but now that we have become parents, we must act maturely.

Now abides faith, hope, love - these three things are needed in the home.  Faith in Jesus Christ, eternal hope for the future of the child, and God's love shed abroad in the hearts, but the greatest of these is love.

May you have a happy Mother's Day.

Pastor Bob

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