CHILDREN'S TIME:    "Why? Because She Loves You"

Why? Because She Loves You

As you all know, today is Mother's Day. Today people honour their mothers and tell her how wonderful and special she is. I've brought a couple of things this morning that remind me of my mother. I want to show them to you and tell you about my mother.

Oatmeal! My mother always insisted that I eat a good breakfast every morning before I went to school. I would have rather had a chocolate covered doughnut, but my mother didn't agree with that idea! I always had to eat something like oatmeal, toast and orange juice. Why? Because my mother loved me and wanted me to grow up to be strong and healthy.

Books! Some of my friends went home after school and watched cartoons on TV, but not me! My Mom always insisted that I do my homework before I watched any TV. Why? Because my mother loved me and she knew that a good education was one of the best things she could give me. 

Clocks! A clock reminds me of my mother because she always insisted on knowing where I was every minute of the day. If I wanted to go to a friend's house after school, I always had to call my Mom and ask her for permission and tell her where I was going to be and what I was going to be doing. Why did she do that? Because she loved me and wanted me to be safe.

Dishwashing detergent! I guess my Mom never heard about child labour laws. She had this idea that every member of the family should chip in and help with the chores around the house. I had special jobs to do and I was expected to do them without being told. Why? Because my mother loved me and wanted me to learn that a happy family is one where everyone works together.

My Mom isn't here anymore. She's in heaven. She probably has the angels dusting off the pearly gates and sweeping the golden streets! My mother was like that. Sometimes I thought I was being mistreated, but I really wasn't. My mother did the things she did because she loved me and wanted what was best for me.

Let's say a little prayer: Father, we thank You for our mothers. Help us to remember that when we think our mother is mistreating us, she is just showing us how much she loves us. Amen.

EDITATION: "Hope For The Family"

Worshipping together as a family is rare today, except for Easter, Christmas and perhaps Thanksgiving. Our hectic lifestyle leaves little or no time for family togetherness. This makes me feel sad, and I admit, a little angry. Worship is the most valuable thing a person can do. As a child and during my elementary and high school life, I attended church every Sunday with my family. This means that during that period I attended approximately 650 Sunday worship services. And the result was a solid sense of good and evil, a confidence in myself and a good moral character.

Parents have the responsibility to teach their children by their own example, and this should include worshipping with them. Children should see how Mom and Dad pray together, how they sing praise to God and how they listen to His Word. We welcome children in this church. We know they can easily become bored and restless, but that's okay with us. You see, children unknowingly absorb a tremendous amount if exposed to something on a regular basis. When we sing our hymns every Sunday, the music and words become familiar, and the message of the music starts to sink in. The form of the service starts to feel natural. The choir and the guest musicians allow the children to hear music they may not hear at any other time.

So now the question is: "Is there hope for the Christian family?" Let's start by asking "What is a family?"

Take one husband, one wife, four walls, one small dog or stray cat; mix
well; add a generous portion of time; and you are almost certain to have a family. The dog or cat isn't absolutely necessary for the recipe, but somehow or other it seems to give God the right idea, and He blesses the family with an addition.

The family always seems to start at exactly the wrong time. When the
snow is the deepest or the hour the latest, the traffic the heaviest or the tires the flattest, the wife will whisper, "Honey, I think you'd better get the car." So the husband and wife become a family in an awesome moment and God smiles. Families are His business. "It's over" sighs the husband. "It's here" thinks the wife. "it's just begun" says God.

The family, from Dad's point of view, could be the best collection of people in the whole world — a pretty and efficient wife, a highly intelligent son, and angel of a daughter, a well-behaved dog, and, of course, himself. All is well with the world and life is good
.
Mother comes to view her family with fatalistic resignation. No matter
how she slaves at cleaning, cooking, washing, polishing, sewing, mending, or ironing, Dad will never notice it. To him, home is a place to relax after a day's work. Then there's Sonny. She spends her life starting him on the right path, and what does he do? He spends his Sunday School money for jelly beans. Sister, the one she has always felt close to, has drifted away and started using makeup and is getting texts from boys! And that four-legged monster! He's tracked up her kitchen floor again. If only the family would appreciate all that Mother does for them.

Sonny thinks his family is awesome, although he thinks Dad could be a little smarter. And trying to get a couple of dollars from him is harder than getting out of piano practice. Mom is an angel, but a strict angel. And Sister! Well, she's better than most girls. The one who has the right idea is Old Spot — he runs likes crazy and just has a good time.

Sister is tolerant of her old-fashioned family. Dad is a lovable old man, he must be 35, at least. Mother is a dear, but so far behind the times and absolutely impossible at times. Sonny likes to tease and get in the way all the time. He and his dog. If Spot could walk on two legs she'd rather have him take her to a dance.

And what does Spot think of the family? We'll never really know but he probably has a better and truer understanding of the family than any of them.

When God made the family He must have meditated a long time. The
family must have food, shelter and clothing, so there must be a father. The family must have care, affection and guidance, so there must be a mother. The family must not be dull or tiresome, so there must be a boy to shout, jump, run, get in the way and hang by his knees from trees. The next family can't be forgotten, so there must be a girl, an' angel who will love them, bewilder them, and make them so very proud.

So all are accounted for except for poor old Spot. Perhaps he was intended to become a member of the family to be a constant example of love and devotion for all the others.

Love, peace, harmony and kind words are the keys to unlocking a happy home. And making God a part of the family is what will keep the family strong and together throughout the years. God believes in the importance of a family. He wants the family to come together to worship Him and to praise Him. It's easy to do this: you can bring your children to church and worship together as a family; you can say grace before a meal; you can teach your child a bedtime prayer; you can read a Bible story or teach a Bible song. There are many ways to worship with your children.

The benefits of worshipping with your children far outweigh any inconvenience you may have to endure. We have the added benefit of living in a time when resources are at our fingertips. All sorts of teaching materials for children can be found online, including printables to encourage your children to learn more about God and Jesus.

Being able to attend church and Sunday School is a wonderful privilege, not available to every child. There are so many Bible stories that get children excited, interested and eager to hear more. And kids love crafts and games, and these can easily be found, and will enhance the learning experience of every story.

As I said earlier, children are always welcome at Rockburn Presbyterian
Church. But even if it's difficult or not possible to bring them, find a little time to worship with them at home. God wants the family to come together to worship Him.

If your parents worshipped with you regularly while you were young,
there's a very good chance that you are worshipping God regularly as an adult. As parents, or even as grandparents, one of your most important ministries is worshipping with your children!

Let us pray: All praise to You, Lord Jesus, lover of children. Bless each family in our congregation, in our community and the world over, and help us to lead our children to You. Give us light and strength and courage when our task is difficult. Let Your Spirit fill us with love and peace, so that we may help our children love You. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

​CALL TO WORSHIP:     
 Let us worship God
 in the knowledge that just as we have heard God’s call to worship,
so God hears our voices in worship.
Come, let us worship God.