Brownsboro First UMC
by Ernest Elliott

A mother understands that baking cookies is more important than washing windows. A mother is a lap to climb upon when you are tired. A Mother is a soft voice. A Mother often says, "I love you," but never, "You are too much bother." She laughs with you but never at you. She says "yes" more than "no," but she does not change her "no" to "yes" with any amount of coaxing.

A Mother is a link to God - - the child's first impression of God, and his first awareness of God's love comes from his Mother. Later when she tells him God loves him, the child is able to understand what love is all about. A Mother keeps a secret and a promise. She is never too busy to listen when you want to talk, whether you are three or seventeen. Yes, a Mother is all of this and more.

How does a Mother interpret love to a child? When he is only a newborn baby, she transmits to him feelings of love. Holding him close to her, singing to him, attending to his physical needs with a quiet, happy spirit, being close when he is frightened or ill. In all these ways a Mother says, "I love you" long before a child can understand words. A baby does not need to be told he is loved, although tell- ing reinforces that feeling. Mothers who hold tightly to God's hand and tightly to the child's hand at the same time are channels through which the love of God is first transmitted to the child. God bless our Mothers!

The son who said this about his mother is unknown; however they are very appropriate words for Mother's Day. Do not forget your mother; she is a gift from God to you and you should be a gift of God to her. Hold her, kiss her, tell her how important she is to you. There is nothing in life you will miss more than your mother when she is gone from you.

MOTHERS, my name is Ernest Elliott, pastor of The Brownsboro United Methodist Church, and I want to say thank you for what you do and are doing, as mothers, for this country. We as Americans owe you so very much as it is your children who are defending our freedom. I say children because as a parent I know they are always children to us. This Mother's Day may God bless you in all the many ways you deserve.

P.S. I have heard it said, "Life can only be understood by looking backward, but it must be lived by looking forward. " Sunday night was our Community singing at our church and I had a blessed time and hope you did too. It helps give me something to look forward to with anticipation of the next fifth Sunday Community Singing. Thank you all, and a special thanks to the ladies of the church who did the refreshments.