BUT MOM ….  BUT DAD ….

How often have you used that phrase?

“No, you cannot go to the park.  You have to study.”  But mom, all my friends are going.

“No, you cannot go skating.  They have a lot of trouble at the rink.”  But dad, it is not like that anymore.

“No, you cannot go to Susie’s house.  Last time her mom took off and there were no adults there.  No ‘but mom’.  The answer is no.”

Have you used that phrase?  Have your children used it on you?  If so, don’t worry.  You are not alone.  Even Jesus said, “But mom, …”

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 

“Woman, why do you involve me?”  Jesus replied.  “My hour has not yet come.” 

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”  They did so,

John 2:1-8

 

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”  Then Jesus said, “But mom.”

I never got away with ‘but mom’ or ‘but dad.’  Neither did Jesus.  His mom ignored him and told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them.  Jesus knew he could tell his mother no.  Instead of no, he told her that it was not his time. 

BUT Jesus respected and honored his mother.  Jesus did not argue and did as his mother requested.

And God spoke all these words: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:1, 12

I will be honest.  I DID NOT always honor my father and mother.  I argued with my dad, but that never turned out good.  I did honor them most of the time, because those times when I didn’t, I would have trouble sitting for a few days.  The paddle, used on 4 kids, split and was held together with electrical tape.  On the rare occasion, I got in trouble at school, I was disciplined at school.  My mom was not overly happy and I suffered for days knowing that when my truck driver dad got home, I would be the object of his punishment.  Usually, by the time he got home, he was tired and took it fairly easy on me.  He thought the dread and waiting for him to get home was punishment enough.  It was!!

The majority of the time, it was “yes mom”  or “yes dad”  when I was asked told to do something.  Clear the table.  “Yes, mom.”  Do the dusting.  “Yes, mom.”  Go help your mother in the garden.  “Yes, Dad.”

Rabbit trail: I hated working in the garden or flower beds.  I would much rather clean the house, but work in the garden I did… until I would accidentally cut down a flower or green bean plant.  I would cut off something that could be a weed, but mom would explain it was a tomato plant.  Then she would send me out of her garden.  It was an accident, honest.

Back to the blog.  Throughout the gospels, we hear about Jesus obeying His Father.  I am glad to know that he also obeyed his mother.  AND his mother knew he would do as she asked.

Jesus was a good son.