Mother's Day is often a day of very mixed emotions. On one hand, it is a day filled with celebration and joy as we give thanks for those women in our lives who have nurtured, cared for, and influenced our lives in so many ways. On the other hand, it is often a day of pain and longing as the memory of loved ones who have passed away stings more acutely or we ache to have had figures in our lives that treated us better. As we hurt and celebrate, the Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of considering what our lives are passing on to the people around us.
The most important thing mothers and the church (acting as a mother, John 19) can pass on to others is a passionate (rekindled) faith in Jesus Christ. A faith marked with a particular spirit (v6), a particular purpose (v9), and a particular grace (v9).
