Challenged to Do What's Right on Mother's Day

Picking the perfect Mother’s Day card has always been a challenge for me.  I can spend hours at the card shop reading sentiments like You’ve been the best influence ever or You’re my best friend.  These thoughts are beautiful and touch my heart, but don’t come close to the relationship I have with my mother.
My mother and I are not as close as many mother and daughters are.  I love my mother and know without a doubt that she loves me.  But some of life’s dark twists and turns along the way made it challenging to reach the level of closeness these cards reflect.
While we both sought Norman Rockwell moments, we accepted the fact that there would always be that elephant of dysfunction in the room with us.
It wasn’t until we discovered the unrealistic reality of our expectations that we found peace. We learned to deal with awkward silence. We learned not to expect what the other couldn’t give.  
Expectations ~ the human side of shoulds or oughts ~ cause most of our problems in our relationships with parents. But Christ’s divine guidance offers standards that set everything right.
Simply put, we are instructed to honor our mother and father.
Apostle Paul says in Ephesians, “Honor your father and mother” ~ which is the first commandment with a promise ~ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (6:2-3 NIV)
The love I have for my mother may be difficult to explain.  It isn’t about cards and flowers and ooey-gooey sentiment, but all in all, I love her.  It’s a love that’s true. And that love blesses us both through my obedient. God tells me to, and in the toughest of times, that’s enough of a reason to do so.
If Mother’s Day is difficult for you, know that obeying God’s word brings life.  And life is a good thing.
Do your best to find the perfect Mother’s Day card.  There’s still time. Walk past the flowery or sappy ones if you must. But find a card that offers her the honor she is due. You’ll be glad you did.