Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29)

Something totally unplanned for happened at our Mother’s Day Service this year. The Lord had given me a rather unusual assignment—to preach a message based on the life of Rebekah, wife of the patriarch Isaac.

When you read about the life of Rebekah as described in chapters 24-27 of Genesis, you realize that she was not exactly the model wife and mother portrayed in Proverbs 31.

To be perfectly honest, she set an extremely poor example when she orchestrated the immaculate deception that led to Jacob receiving the blessing that rightfully belonged to his older brother Esau. (Genesis 27)

At the same time, we cannot ignore her willingness to go beyond the call of duty and offer Eliezer and his 10 camels all the water they needed, even if it meant making 50 trips up and down the steps of the well carrying 5 gallons every time! (Genesis 24)

Neither can we overlook the time she sought the Lord while going through a difficult pregnancy, heard His reassuring voice and received a prophecy regarding the twins in her womb. (Genesis 25:22-23)

On the whole though, let’s just say that author Liz Curtis Higgs was justified in including Rebekah in her list of “Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible!”

The message focused on how our mothers were not perfect, and why we need to honour them regardless of the way they treated us. The Lord had directed me to provide everyone an opportunity to forgive their mothers and also for mothers who had messed up to seek His forgiveness.

It is our custom to end the Mother’s Day service by pronouncing a blessing on all the mothers. Normally this would be done by members of the congregation gathering around the mothers and laying hands on them while I released words of blessing over them.

That was the plan when I walked into Morgan’s Point United Church. However, while we were worshipping, I sensed a Holy Spirit flash of the words quoted at the top of this post. There they were, blinking in bright neon on the eyes of my spirit:

“HER CHILDREN RISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED.”

I was still not sure what to do with them and proceeded to deliver the message. As I started circling the airport looking for a place to land the sermon, I heard Control Tower giving me the specific instructions I had been seeking.

“Would all the mothers in the congregation please rise?” Shuffle. Shuffle.

“And, would those of you who are their children please stand next to them and wrap your arms around them?” Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle.

“Would you children now look them in the eye and say: ‘Mom, I rise up and call you blessed?’” Sniffle. Sniffle.

“Would the rest of the congregation please gather around those moms whose children are not here today?” Shuffle. Shuffle.

“Would you look at these mothers and say to them: ‘I stand in the gap on behalf of your children. I rise up and call you blessed.’” Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle.

At Forks Road East United Church, there was an added dimension to this sacred moment. Jason had his arms around his mother Liz, who had her arms around her mother Jasmine. And Josh was blessing his mother Jackie who had her arms wrapped around her mother Val.

It was an emotionally powerful time of ministry. Was it because some of the mothers had never heard the words “I call you blessed” from their children? Or because some of the children had never said those words to their mothers? I do not know for sure.

Dear DWOD friend, you may realize how blessed you are to have your mother/father/spouse/mentor/pastor/spiritual leader in your life…but if you have not told them something similar to the words: “I rise up and call you blessed”, would you do so today? I believe it will bring joy to the one at the receiving end and a smile to your Father’s face in heaven.

Such honouring of a parent would also result in you receiving the promised reward: “that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)