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To the Editor:
Mother’s Day is May 9. Mothers are special and I enjoy looking at the pictures of mothers in the Elizabethton Star. You should love and appreciate your mother and you can’t do too much for your mother. These last days the Bible says will be characterized by evil and sinfulness. Among other evils, 2 Timothy 3 says people in the last days before the return of Jesus will be disobedient to parents and unthankful. Recently in North Carolina someone murdered both of their parents and two policemen. In Elizabethton just a few weeks ago a man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murdering his own mother. How could anyone be so evil as to murder their own mother?
In a survey by Dennis Prager (www.prageru.com) he found that more than a fourth of adult children never talk to their parents. Having no contact with parents is evil and the opposite of honoring them. Prager believes it’s because America has more narcissism and secularism than ever before. America now has more disobeying the Bible Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother” than ever before. Prager says a society in which children don’t honor their parents is doomed to self-destruction. Prager says, “what goes around comes around. If your children see you honor your parents, no matter how difficult it may be, the chances are far greater they will honor you!”
Family Psychologist John Rosemond says the best parents give their children a lot of what he called vitamin N. The word “No.” Those children never told “no” become over-indulged, depressed, self-centered, unthankful and emotionally stunted. Today we have more who are immature and can’t get along with others than ever before because of parents who obey their children and never told them “no.” They expect their friends, bosses and spouse to also never tell them no and as a result have a lot of conflict and unhappiness.
Our first president, George Washington, said, “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.” Christian mothers like George Washington had are making a positive difference in their children’s lives. Even today according to www.christianheadlines.com, “Moms are influencing their children for Jesus Christ. Dads? Not so much.” Survey finds 68 percent of Christians said their mother’s Christian faith impacted them, 46 percent said fathers and 37 percent said grandparents. We salute the mothers who have helped bring their children to a saving faith in Jesus and a love for Jesus. They have succeeded in the thing that matters most. What character and attitude we leave in our children is more important than what we leave to them.
In Proverbs 31 and throughout the Bible it describes and praises Godly virtuous mothers. She cooks, cleans, sews and plants at her home while holding down a job outside her home. She loves people, and they love her. She has plenty of time for everything because she gets up early and works hard. She doesn’t waste time on self-pity or complaining. Her number one concern and focus is Jesus. She developed her relationship with Jesus by prayer and walking daily with Him. She shares the wisdom she learned from God and the Bible with her family. I learned the value of hard work from my mother.
Sadly a record one-fourth of American adult children today don’t ever talk to their parents. They need to repent from this evil disrespect. It’s our attitude toward and respect for our parents that according to the Bible brings God’s blessing or cursing. Those like Washington that love and respect their parents, God blesses with a longer and better life than they would have had. The Bible says things won’t go well for those who don’t honor their mother and father. Michael Jackson hated his father and Anna Nicole Smith hated her mother. Both died young. Motherly words of wisdom have kept their children out of trouble and alive. They taught their sons and daughters what the Bible says, such as to only marry another Christian. Now more than ever, children need to hear words of wisdom from a Christian mother.

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton