Love Like Mom

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I am Mike Whitmer and I title today's reading, Love Like Mom. Juanita told her nephew about growing up during the Great Depression. Her poor family only had apples to eat, plus whatever wild game her dad might provide. Whenever he bagged a squirrel for dinner, her mom would say, give me that squirrel head. That's all I want to eat.

It's the best piece of meat. Years later, Juanita realized there wasn't any meat on a squirrel's head. Her mom didn't eat it.

She only pretended it was a delicacy, so us kids could get more to eat and we wouldn't worry about her. As we celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow, may we also recount stories of our mother's devotion. We thank God for them and strive to love more like them. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul says he served the Thessalonian church as a nursing mother cares for her children. He loved fiercely, fighting through strong opposition to tell them about Jesus and to share his own life with them. He worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while he preached the gospel of God to them, just like mom. Few can resist a mother's love, and Paul modestly said his efforts were not without results. We can't control how others respond, but we can choose to show up day after day to serve them in a sacrificial way.

Mom would be proud, and so will our Heavenly Father. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verses 1 through 9. You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know. But with the help of our God, we dare to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God who tests our hearts.

You know we never use flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed. God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preach the gospel of God to you. Let's pray. Father, we are your children because we put our faith in your son. No one could love us more than you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.