2 Chronicles 22:2,3
"2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly."

1 Kings 3:16-27
"16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. 17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. 22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. 23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof."

A good mother wants what's best for her child. Two days ago just thirty minutes from here a mother pointed a loaded gun at her three year old son's head to escape the police. Last winter, eight miles from here a grandfather shot and killed his eight year old grandson. In the first scripture above (2nd Chronicles) Ahaziah's mother counseled him to do wickedly. Our children are watching us every minute. When you think they aren't listening, they hear everything you are saying. My daughter and son-in-law bought a new car a few weeks ago. My six year old grandson was staying with me that day. His mom sent me an email and the subject line read: DON'T TELL ROSS - IT'S A SECRET. I didn't know he had come into the room and was looking at the computer screen over my shoulder. He's only in the first grade but he said, "Don't tell me what? What's a secret?" They read things you leave laying around. They listen to your telephone conversations. They hear you and your spouse when you argue. A good mother always looks to see where her children are before she speaks if she is going to say something they do not need to hear! And when her children ask her advise, no matter how trivial or silly the subject seems to her, she will try to take the time to listen and offer good advise. Their little problems may seem small to you but they are big to them!

In the second scripture above, Solomon had to settle a dispute between two women who both claimed the same baby. He finally pretended he was going to cut the baby in half and give each woman a half. One woman said, "Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." But the mother of the baby said, "Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it." Solomon, the wisest man we have any record of, knew the true mother of the child would not want any harm to come to the child. A good mother would give her own life for her child. That is why it hurts us so much to discipline our children. But if we love them, we will discipline them. We will teach them right from wrong and as they grow, they will love us more for the teaching and they will respect us more. I see children that have absolutely no respect for their parents and I truly believe it is because they lack discipline.

John 19:
"26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

I can't, with a good conscience, leave this subject without saying something to older children. Just as a good mother will take care of her children, good children will take good care of their mothers! For some women, when their child or children moves away from home it is devastating. If this happens to your mother, you need to call often, visit often and include her in your life as much as you can. Please don't shut your mother out of your life after you leave home. She has been there for you all your life and now that you are on your own you need to include her in what you are doing. You needed her for years, chances are, now she needs you! If you are an older adult and your mother is older, she may need your help. She might need you to volunteer to help her out around the house once in a while. How long has it been since you noticed things in her house? How long has it been since the windows have been washed. Do the curtains need cleaning? The whole house might need a good Spring Cleaning. She probably would never ask for your help. Don't make her feel like it's a big deal. Just tell her you have a day with nothing to do and thought it would be a good idea to spend some time together. Then ask her if there is something she needs you to do for her.

Even Jesus took time before he died to provide for His mother.

LOVE, MEME

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