I have been agonizing over Sunday.  Sunday is Mother’s Day.  For weeks I have been wrestling with an important decision pertaining to Mother’s Day.  No, it was not “What gifts should I buy for Mother’s Day?” or even “Where should we go for lunch on Mother’s Day?”  Those are important questions but I have solved those dilemmas.  No, I have been agonizing over this question:

What songs should we sing on Mother’s Day?

Choosing the specific songs we sing on Sundays is one of my responsibilities.  I take it very seriously and work hard at it.  To be honest, there are not very many “Mother’s Day Hymns.”  The few that do exist are not particularly well known.  And let’s face it, singing a song that few people know is often a painful experience.

So, I finally made some decisions as to what I thought would be some good songs.  Then, I met with Pastor.  Pastor has this way of looking at what you spent weeks working on and saying, “Let’s change a few things.”  🙂  I was actually somewhat relieved when he mentioned changing the songs because I was not too confident in my decisions.  So I replied, “Great, what would you suggest?”  This is the cool part.  Pastor chose a song that I had not even considered.  He chose “Count Your Many Blessings.”  The more I have thought about this song, the more it has struck me that this is the perfect song to sing on Mother’s Day.  One reason this song works so well is that it can be sung universally.  Consider who can sing this song.

• Mothers – Being a mother is a tremendous blessing.  It is a gift from God that not everyone is allowed to experience.  Every mother should praise God for the gift of their children.
• Children – Children can sing this song and thank God for their mothers.  I will be singing this song as a child who is greatful for the blessing of my mother.
• Husbands – Husbands can sing and rejoice that their children have a mother.  I will be singing loudly.  I will be ‘counting my blessings.’  I am blessed by my wife.
• The Hurting – Mother’s Day is often an extremely painful day for many.  Not every woman is a mother.  Not every child has a mother.  Not every mother is a ‘blessing.’  And yet, in the midst of the pain, remember these words:

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

So amid the conflict, whether great of small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I trust that on this Mother’s Day you will ‘count your blessings.’  There are so many.  Take time this Sunday to thank God for the blessings in your life – especially your Mother.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Stephen