Posted on: Saturday, May 8, 2004

EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Mothers are one of life's blessings

By Rev. Dennis Mendoza

It is funny the things we remember, those memories that pop into our thoughts every now and then and make you wonder, "Where did that come from?"

My mother was recently here for a visit. Seeing her triggered some good and joyful memories of my childhood.

There were the many baths she gave me, especially the ones when I made lots of paper boats out of the old TV Guide — boats that floated for a while before they met their watery demise.

Right after the bath came the Johnson's Baby Powder applied abundantly everywhere. I was a walking powder keg!

There were the many times she would bring a Hot Wheel car home for me to have and play with — cars I still have to this day, treasured keepsakes.

Mothers are a wonderful blessing from God.

I remember watching an old "All in the Family" episode years ago when Archie and his son-in-law, Michael, were locked in a walk-in freezer. They were shivering andÊ reminiscing about their childhoods. Michael was complaining about his mother. Archie gave him a lecture on mothers. It went something like this: "Ahhh, don't you even go there. Remember your mother — she went through the pain of childbirth for you. She brought you into this world. Maybe life with her wasn't the best, but at least she bore the pain of bringing you into the world."

As we celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow I realize there is no such thing as the perfect mom. They all have their faults, as we do. But we can be thankful for them. Taking a cue from Archie, we can be thankful that God used them to bring us into this world. We can at least thank our mothers for that and for the other things they have done for us. If we have children, we can commit ourselves to being a loving mother or father to them.

We can look to our heavenly Father and thank him for never leaving or forsaking us (Hebrews 13:5). There is a passage in Isaiah 49:14,15 that refers to Israel. I believe that the truth of the passage is relevant to us in the times we live in. But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me. And the Lord has forgotten me."

The Lord will not forget his children. He loves us with an everlasting love. May we continue to share this message of God's love with those who walk in the ways of darkness, so that they may escape the snare of the evil one and be set free to experience life as it was meant to be, reconciled to God.

The Rev. Dennis Mendoza is acting senior pastor of International Baptist Church in Honolulu. Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes written works by pastors, priests, lay workers and other leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.