Public Service Announcement: Mother’s Day is this Sunday!

We know you’ve got a lot on your mind, with school winding down and summer heating up (unless you live up North, where it’s definitely not too warm yet). No doubt teachers are piling on last minute assignments and you’re just ready for the last day of school. But don’t forget to take some time to celebrate your Mom this weekend on Mother’s Day.

Mom. You know, the woman who brought you into this world? The one who does more for you than you’ll ever realize? The woman who helps you with your homework, drives you to your plethora of extracurricular activities, and makes sure you don’t starve? Yeah, that’s her. So take some time to be extra-sweet. She deserves it!

Since we’re giving you a few days’ warning, you can make it better than last year, when you realized late on Saturday night that the next day was Mother’s Day and ended up making a card with whatever random, dried-up art supplies you found under your bed. (BTW: handmade cards are great; just make sure you put some time and effort into it.)

So here are some ideas: If you have siblings, why not make a Mother’s Day plan with them? (Your dad would probably appreciate being included too.) Go in together to purchase a gift that she’ll actually use and really love. Take turns tackling a meal (or even better, all three meals on Sunday) and cleaning up afterwards so that your mom can enjoy some time away from the kitchen. A bouquet of flowers, even if they’re just picked from the yard, will brighten her day. Let her take a nap, uninterrupted. Or better yet, spend some time talking with her. Make sure you listen when she talks. (Otherwise, it’ll be like any other conversation you’d have with her on a typical day, right?)

The bottom line is to make her feel special. Consider it your assignment. After all, the Bible does say to honor your mother. (It’s in Ephesians 6:1-3.) Show her the respect she deserves. Don’t roll your eyes or talk back to her. Don’t argue. Be grateful. Try to live in peace with her and the rest of your family. (We know that can be tough, but it’s also in the Bible, in Romans 12:18.)

So consider yourself informed. Now go and make this the best Mother’s Day yet! And feel free to share with our other blog readers any great ideas you’re planning (or have planned in the past) to celebrate your mother or other special women in your life. Just leave us a comment.

Give your mom the PERFECT gift!

Moms are cool, most of the time. They take care of you when you're little, try to teach you the right things, sometimes admit they've been wrong, and are some of the most important people in our lives.

Take my mom for example. That's a picture of us from about two years ago. My mom is my mom. She and my dad worked hard to teach me the truth, raise me in a way that would bring glory to God, and correct me (even when it hurt them more than it hurt me) when I was in the wrong. She's been a constant source of advice, an example of serving others, and she's always good for a laugh. My mom wasn't my best friend when I was your age (and she shouldn't have been, I don't think!), but I can tell you that she's one of my best friends now. I admire her love for others, her willingness to serve, her steadfastness, and her kindness. I like that I get to watch her as she walks her journey of faith and is still growing in her relationship with Christ. I feel blessed every day that God chose my mom and dad for me.

So, what do you think about your mom? What makes her special? What do you admire about her? The perfect gift might be telling her those things. And we have the perfect way for you to do that: in the May 2009 issue of ec! Tell us all about your mom, why she's special, why you admire her, or even a special Mother's Day you've already shared. Just comment and tell us! You could (and probably will) see your quote in the May 2009 issue of ec. But hurry! Time is running out! :)

We need your help!

Hey, readers! We're working on a special Mother's Day story for our May 2009 issue. And for it to be all it can be, we need to hear from you! So share some quotes with us about what makes your mom extra-special, why you like her, how you plan to show her you appreciate her, and so forth. Leave your suggestions in the comment section. Who knows? We may use them in the May issue! I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

A day late and a dollar short

So yesterday was Mother's Day (the 100th anniversary, btw!) and here at the ec offices, we're still thinking about our moms. While we may be late to the party in talking about how wonderful mothers are, it's never too late to let your mom know how much you appreciate her and the way she loves you. So take a glimpse at our thoughts on Mother's Day and go tell you mom exactly what you love about her! (GO!)

Emily says: “My mom is great. She’s super fun, organized, beautiful, kind, and loving (but maybe I’m biased). I think my favorite memories of her involve her dancing around the living room. On those rare nights that we were all at home and weren’t exhausted from the day’s activities, she’d put on some music. That woman can dance to anything: Billy Joel, Motown, disco; and she was just so full of life and energy that I’d sometimes have to stop and watch her. She was so into her dancing that she didn’t notice that I was studying her moves so I could bust them out myself one day. And once we were breathless from all the dancing and jumping and singing, she’d usually get a craving for chocolate and go whip us up a batch of her homemade brownies. Those were great nights!”

Mandy says: “This year, I actually wrote a little letter for my mom (which I'll give her when I see her on Memorial Day weekend, so keep it under wraps until then!) and I'd like to share it with you. Here goes: It’s a good thing to have someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself, and you’ve always been that to me. You didn’t know you were having twins; you didn’t know that there wouldn’t be a day you wouldn’t worry about us. But you loved us, even when we were wrong, unrepentant, and just plain stupid. You’re the woman who taught me about laughing at yourself, striving to better the things you don’t like in yourself, and serving God by serving others. You loved me even when I didn’t deserve it, which in turn, helped me to understand a little more of the way God loves me. Sometimes I’m impatient, just like you. Sometimes, I worry too much, just like you. Sometimes I think that I’m too much like you, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Thank you for loving me with abandon and no matter what. Thank you for modeling love in those long days with Grandma at the nursing home and that seemingly endless vigil at her side last August after that final stroke. Thank you for being the one who held my hand at her funeral and empowered me with your own strength once again, just like when I was little. Thank you for being the mom you are. The one who loves me still when I’m wrong, unrepentant, or just plain stupid—and not being afraid to tell me when I am. I looked at a picture of us today on my refrigerator, smiles almost alike. And I laughed and heard an echo of you in it. Thank you for teaching me about laughter, life, and depending on God.”

Saying thank you is always a good thing. Think about some things you'd like to thank your mom for. Then go tell her. Make her Mother's Day last a little longer this year! :) She deserves it!