By Sami Yacoub
The values in today’s world rarely agree with divine standards. For what the world deems valuable or worthy of admiration and acknowledgment, might not necessarily be of value from an eternal perspective. We are surrounded by media influences, which usually highlight some successes, giving them more value than others, without noting the type of impact that these successes have had in the lives of people. We have been so influenced that we have begun to believe that the small and often unnoticed successes no longer matter, or what’s more, that they are worthless if not deemed worthy by the world’s standards!
One of the most beautiful biblical texts that deal with the world’s perspective on this issue of value, is chapter eleven of the letter to the Hebrews. The value that distinguished the life of our forefathers was their measure of ‘FAITH’, despite the fact that their days were not free of persistence, sacrifice and the bearing of many hardships. Every time I read this chapter, I am amazed by the ending in which the writer mentions that he doesn’t have time to tell the stories of many of the heroes of faith, a lot of whom are still unknown to us. They were not successful by worldly standards, but were witnesses of faith by heavenly standards; the world itself is not worthy of them!
This week we celebrate our mothers as Egyptians, both Christians and Muslims. And during this occasion, I always like to pause and think of the story of my mother's life, and all the mothers in general. Regardless of their social or religious backgrounds, or whether they live in rural or urban areas, I see in them a renewed, contemporary model of unseen yet great championship. They might have not received the recognition that they truly deserve, but I am positive, that in the life of every mother, there are numerous stories of struggles, sacrifices, determination, and strong faith in facing the challenges. Honestly, placing a golden crown adorned with precious stones on her head is not enough!
In any case, if our mothers have not been valued enough on earth, the heavenly crown that never perishes awaits them… across the river of this life! For in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ confirms this concept by saying: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6: 3-4. English Standard Version). The previous text clearly describes the overflowing love of our mothers, and the vast amount of sacrifices that they give tirelessly and willingly. They do this without any pride or desire for recognition; for usually no one sees them, and even their children may not realize the huge amount and value of their mother's impact on their lives, for many years! But what encourages every mother living amongst us today, and each and every son or daughter who looks back and feels that their mother did not receive the respect she deserved during her days on earth, is the promise that God who sees in secret will abundantly reward in heaven.
There is truly nothing in this world that can measure a mother’s love; for her love is one of the greatest emotions that a person can experience. No words could ever describe the love of my mother! Perhaps each one of us has a different story that they could tell about their mother, but I know that the common line that will flow through all the stories is the warm love that is quite different from any other love we might experience. It’s a love that remains a real source of inspiration that lits up our lives, even if the giver is no longer here in the flesh. I have been overwhelmed by the grace of God to be the son of a mother who makes me feel very happy ever time I speak of her. My memories with her continue to provide me with courage and joy to face the challenges of the day, and they fill me with hope and determination to experience God’s faithfulness in the future.
"My mom has impacted my life the most, and without her I would have never been who I am now! She led me to a relationship with the Lord Jesus, and to join His church. My mom taught me how to withstand hardships without abandoning integrity, or forsaking the Truth. She taught me how to enjoy abundant life with little resources. She taught me that sufficiency means to have enough, but satisfaction is even a step further; for it is the joy of having enough, even with no leftovers! My mom taught me and my siblings the value and the impact of family bonding, through the sanctification of the marital bond between her and my father, until death separated them. Through her wisdom she practically reflected the saying that says: "Houses are built with bricks and stone, but homes are built with love alone!" And as my mother got older, she taught me that aging does not mean losing hope in life. On the contrary, it means that we have more persistence to live our life for the Lord, and to be ready to meet Him when the time comes. Today, I am sad for the departure of my mother, but I look back and see how she has inspired me with her creative lifestyle to be productive wherever I am. The most precious legacy that she left us is the example of her life, which was characterized by a unique combination of thanksgiving and simplicity, and an abundance of unconditional love and humility. My mom did not bear any work-related title in her life, and she did not receive any international or even local award for her 86 years of dedicated service. Her name was not put on any street or square; so according to our earthly standards she is one of the millions of moms who have just gone through this life… However, she lived a great life by heavenly standards! "
This was an extract of what I wrote in my diary about my mother after her departure. I wanted to share it in this corner of ‘Watany’ on the occasion of Mother’s Day… Now, do you have special memories that you could tell to your children or friends about your mother? Or are you one of the lucky ones who still have the chance to visit your mom and tell her from your heart: "If I could choose a mother… I would definitely choose you, Mom."
Copyright © 2012 Focus on the Family Middle East. All rights reserved. Originally published in Watani Paper 17.3.2013.
