10 Ways to Honor Mom

This is my first Mother’s Day without my mom. She passed away before Christmas of 2010 and it will be sad to not talk to her, send her flowers, and recall fond memories.

But for those of you who still have your moms, this is a time to honor her and make it a special day. Honoring mom will be easy for some of you, but more difficult for others. Some will read through Mother’s Day cards and feel tremendous loss and sadness because of the difficult relationship you have with mom.

Instead of focusing on the times our moms let us down or didn’t give us exactly what we thought we needed, let’s look for ways to strengthen this important and powerful relationship since it impacts all other relationships. In fact, the more we work things out with mom, the better we will be at working things out in any intimate relationship. It is so important to strengthen the mother-daughter bond and find a way to do what God commands – honor our moms. Remember, this commandment comes with a promise: “so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”    

Here are some ways you can honor your mom this weekend – and throughout the year:

1. Tell her at least one thing she did right.
2. Recall happy times and loving memories.
3. Resolve past hurts and start fresh. You go first!
4. Write a short story about you and mom and share it with her.
5. Send a card expressing thanks.
6. Make a scrapbook of your favorite memories together or frame a photo of a happy moment in your lives.
7. Buy her dinner or bring her special treats.
8. Tell her you love her and appreciate all the sacrifices she made through the years.
9. Forgive and extend grace.
10. In the most difficult relationships, you can always honor her for giving you life. Buy a blank card and simply write, “Thanks for choosing life and bringing me into this world.”

Promo: For more help with mother-daughter relationships, purchase a copy of Dr. Linda Mintle’s latest book, I Love My Mother But… And check out her website at www.drlindahelps.com.