Mom, show me what love is.  Don’t tell me.  Show me.

When your friend’s doing something that hurts her, love her enough to tell her.  But do it gently, Mom.  How you treat her when she’s wrong says a lot to me.  She may not like you when you say it, but love her anyway.

And when she’s hurting from that bad choice she made, love her by listening, giving her grace, praying for her.  How you treat her shows me grace is for imperfect people just like me.

That guy at work said some mean things about you today.  Show me what love is.  Don’t lash back like the world, Mom.  Show me how to love your enemies by seeing them through God’s eyes.  Tell me how, even when it’s hard, love responds radically differently than the world…that “the greatest of these is love”.

When our neighbor shares that article, Mom, and it upsets you to the core, don’t comment in anger. Stop, think, breathe, and try to see life through her eyes.  You’ll show me that love is slow to anger and speak, and sometimes doesn’t speak at all.

Mom, I see how your sister presses your buttons.  I know you sometimes lose it with her.  Show me what love is and apologize.  Because when I lose it, I need to see that love asks for forgiveness.  It doesn’t give excuses for the wrongs it does or wait for the other person to be sorry.  It just tries to make things right when it’s done what’s wrong.  Forgive her, Mom, whether she asks for it or not.

By the way, I’m sorry, Mom.  I know I left my towel on the bathroom floor again.  As much as I don’t like cleaning, don’t pick it up for me.  Show me love by holding me responsible and sticking to it.  And when I forget again, try to be patient with me.  I really want to be responsible.  I really want to meet your expectations, but I’m still learning.  While you’re at it…

Encourage me to work hard.  Be my cheerleader.  I’ll want to give up.  I’ll say, “It’s too hard.  I just can’t do it.” You’ve overcome so much, Mom.  Show me that hard work matters and that struggles make us strong.  Show me that love builds others up when it’s tough.  Pray over me, pray WITH me for God’s strength to overcome.  Because I want to encourage others to overcome, just like you taught me.

Mom, many friends voted differently than you did this election.  Show me what love is, that love speaks respectfully with those who see life through different eyes.  Mom, you’ve told me that love listens to understand and shares it’s views with humility and graciousness.  Show me that love doesn’t judge the motives of the heart.  It doesn’t back down from truth, but it also doesn’t shove truth in someone’s face.  Love is reasonable.

Some of those people will accuse you of loving with beliefs, but not action.  Show me what love is, Mom–that love isn’t just good intentions.  Love IS action.  It stands up for the oppressed, feeds the homeless, and helps single moms.  Show me how love brings a meal to a friend who’s husband has cancer, sitting with her as she weeps.  Show me that love is sacrifice and giving when it hurts, because Jesus sacrificed it all for us.

You tell me that Jesus IS love, so show me love by showing me Jesus.  Tell me about him.  Write his words on our walls.  Leave me notes on my mirror, reminding me of his goodness.  Help me memorize his words.  Don’t say good-bye to me even one more time without reminding me who I am in Jesus: cherished, loved, forgiven, and free.  I need that, Mom.  I need that more than you realize because it’s a tough world…

When you were my age, did you ever wish you were someone else? There are times I wish that, Mom, so love me just as God made me, just as I am.   I’m so imperfect, I know.  Give me confidence in God to work on me and to make me more like him.  Love me in my mess.

Sometimes I wonder if God loves me less in my mess.  Through my tears, tell me God’s love doesn’t lessen on bad days or grow on good days.  Remind me it’s maxed out for me every single day because of what Jesus did on the cross.  Reassure me that I don’t have to be perfect or earn God’s love (or yours), but show me how to humble myself & repent, giving it all to him. Then, will you be brave enough to share with me a time you messed up?  When I know you mess up too, I know I’m not so alone.

And in those moments I feel alone and I’m being stubborn…when I hurt you and don’t want to hear anything you’re saying, I beg you.  Show me what love is.  Be firm, but forgive me, Mom.  Show me that no matter how far I go, forgiveness is there.  Confirm what God’s grace is…that its waiting when I’m ready to come home.  Prove that your affection for me hasn’t changed and that you’re ready when I come to the end of myself.

Because that’s really what love is.  It’s what God’s done for you and for me.  It’s love in action with no strings attached.  He loves perfectly and never stops.

I know we can’t expect perfect love from each other, Mom.  After all, we need the refining love of God just as much as everyone else. But because you show me (and the world) love with your imperfect life, now I can choose to show love to the world, too.

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What would you add to the ways moms can show love? Comment below!

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