[413 words]
It is my good fortune in life to be blessed with a faithful Christian mother. My mother has blessed my life in more ways than I can count. Without her influence and godly example, I might not be a Christian or have a Christian family of my own. I will be forever grateful for the impact my mother has had on my life. If you have been blessed with a Christian mother, I am certain you share these same sentiments. There is no doubt that heaven will be populated with people whose lives have been shaped by the influence of godly mothers, and we should never take our mothers for granted.
Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to pause and express gratitude for our mothers. Mother’s Day of the year 2015 is now history, but I am certain that many people who will read this article stopped to thank God for their mothers, and rightfully so.
There is another day that is very special: the Lord’s Day. John, an apostle of Christ, wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). I am persuaded that the Lord’s Day is the “first day of the week,” the day that Christ arose from the grave and the day on which early Christians met for worship (Luke 24:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). As in the days of the first century, Christians still assemble on Sunday to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
It was interesting to observe that on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10) there were not as many baseball tournaments held. This is interesting because, normally, Sunday is a very busy day of baseball tournaments. When I was a child, the thought of having a baseball tournament at 10 a.m. on Sunday would never have entered the minds of those who organize tournaments. However, that has obviously changed.
At the risk of sounding judgmental, I ask, what does it say about our priorities when we refuse to play baseball on Mother’s Day or some other holiday, but readily play each Lord’s Day? Did Jesus not warn, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”? (Matthew 10:37). Did He not admonish: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you?” (Matthew 6:33).
I am not condemning all Sunday baseball; I am simply challenging us to think about our priorities. I truly believe it is high time that we do so. Don’t you?
Mark Lindley
Chapman church of Christ
Ripley, MS