Defining True Value

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; Proverbs 31:25-28 (NIV)

Would you pay 718,750 Dollars for a piece of wood? It would depend upon the wood since that’s the price someone paid at a March auction. The wood wasn’t just any old piece of wood but it was the plank that kept Kate Winslet’s character Rose out of the icy waters in the movie Titanic while Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, hung onto the edge. “The door—which the auction notes reveal was in fact part of the door frame above the ship’s first-class lounge entrance—is clung on to by the central couple as the ship sinks.” (Catherine Shoard)

How do you determine what is valuable? For a movie trivia buff $718,750 apparently is worth the money. However, for me, that sounds extravagant. Yesterday marked the celebration of true extravagance as we set aside the day to honor and appreciate our mothers. In her book, holy is the day, Professor Carolyn Weber writes “When I grow up, I mean way, way up, I hope to be a wise old woman of God. Someone who has learned not merely to seize the day but to seize the Lord.”

Spiritual maturity sets people aside from others who simply live life today. Thomas Traherne noted, “We do not ignore maturity. Maturity consists in not losing the past while fully living in the present with a prudent awareness of the possibilities of the future.” Generations before Traherne’s quote, Paul commented on his young protégé’s faith that was grounded now in the third generation with the words, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Tim 1:5)

Timothy would go on to be an early leader of the church but it was the impact of his mother and grandmother’s investment into his life that made the difference in how he would impact others. Mother’s Day allows us to stop and reflect upon those women of character who poured life, hope, and ability into future generations.

There may not be a Mother’s Day observance mentioned in the Bible but scripture is filled with women of character who lived out their lives in love, sacrifice, and commitment. “It is okay to love deeply, the seen or the unseen even if this love comes with fear. For surely it will. I can’t think of a love that is worth its salt unaccompanied by any fear at all. But it is in the facing of the fear and loving still, and through it, that the loving becomes burnished to a precious seen and transformed into an ever-present gift.” (Dr. Carolyn Weber) These women of character can readily identify with the words of Dr. Weber as they faced the fears of the unknown, the uncertainty of what tomorrow might look like, yet that was what these women of faith did every day and what mothers still do every day

Love mixed with fear gave Jochebed the courage to risk her life for her infant son, Moses. Jochebed understood the requirements of the government that “every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile” (Ex. 1:22) but she chose to defy the order that saved her son who would lead Israel out of bondage.

Love, mixed with fear, gave Hannah the courage to risk ridicule to boldly ask God for a son. “In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly…LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and for forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.” Out of her boldness to ask, “the LORD remembered her” and Samuel would be born who would become the prophet who anointed David as king. (ref story in I Sam 1)

Love mixed with fear gave Mary the courage to expose herself to being a social outcast to obey God. “You have favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” Mary bravely faced the gossip and condescending looks when she said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.”

Mary’s words in Luke 1 capture the heart of one that understands fully love mixed with fear. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”

How do you determine what is valuable? Charley Benetto said it well, “When you are looking at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.” A Mother’s Love is worth far more than a movie plank.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Cor 13:13)

God is great!