Appointment with Power | When a Hurricane Hits | Mama Said | Breakthrough

MAMA SAID

Many of us have known people that have imparted invaluable nuggets into our lives. Maybe it was a special friend, teacher, coach or mentor. For me it was my mother.

Born and raised in Georgia, my mother was one of 11. She was a beautiful tall thin red head with an outspoken personality. She didn't have that much of an education, actually, I'm not sure she even graduated from high school. She was married at 16 and a mother at 17. I am one of five children.

As we grew up Mama had these, "sayings" that she would constantly speak over us. For example, if she saw behavior she thought our father would not approve of she would say, "Child, if your father could see how you are acting he would have a stripped fit!" Now I'm not sure what a stripped fit was, but I was sure I didn't want to see one. When she would get to the end of her rope with us she would say something like this, "If you kids don't mind me I'm gonna slap you windin." I can't begin to tell you what that did for my imagination.

As I came to know the Lord and raise children of my own I now know that Mama's sayings were all rooted in God's Word. Well, most of them. I have even found myself saying the very same things to my children.

When I was a little girl I would go through relationship challenges, as little girls do, and if my mother knew I was treating someone ugly or unkind or if I got down right hateful she would say, "Go ahead young lady, you'll reap what you sow." I hated it when she said that. How did she always know and why was she always right? I knew that I was in trouble and whatever I had done was about to come on me.

Jesus said that if we did not understand that parable we would not understand any parable. Sowing and reaping is a principle that works for the just and the unjust. It's one of those things that when God said, "Let there be..." The principle of sowing and reaping was hard coded into the earth and it never changes. I have come to realize that everything we say and do is a seed. We can be a blessing or a curse.

My mother made a lot of my clothes. She wanted her girls to look pretty and she took great pride in her work. However, if my sister and I didn't act as pretty as we looked she would say, "OK girls, pretty is as pretty does." In the book of Mark the scripture says that it is not what goes into a person, but what comes out of a person that defiles him. Mom knew that if our words and actions were out of line, then it was a heart issue. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." I was recently in a church speaking on this subject when a lady from the back of the church shouted, "Honey, God don't like ugly." Mom didn't either. She wanted her girls to act as pretty as they looked and for that beauty to come from not just what was on the outside, but also from the heart.

My parents were great encouragers. They were all the time telling us how special we were and constantly praising us. I can remember coming home from school one day in tears. When asked what was wrong I told my mother how one of the girls in my class was having a party and everyone was invited except me. I was devastated! My mother just looked at me and said, "Honey, that girl will have to live a long time to be as good as you and she is the one missing out." Now I know that might sound arrogant or prideful, but what my mother was trying to instill in me was a security of just knowing who I was and that I did not have to be a part of the crowd. I have come to know how very important it is for us to really know who we are in Christ. Rejection does not have to have dominion over our lives. We really can rest in the security of the Lord. The Word says in Isaiah that God has a picture of us tattooed on the palm of each of His hands. We are the apple of His eye.

As a teenager my room was usually a disaster area. Mother would allow it for a while, but when it got really bad she would tell me it's time to get it cleaned up. The conversation would go something like this, "OK young lady get this mess cleaned up." I would respond with, "OK in a minute." She would make a couple of trips to my room with the same dialogue taking place. When she had had it with me she would come to the door, put her hands of her hips and with a stern look and voice she would say, "Young lady, it's time to perform the doing of it!" What powerful words those have become to me. Jesus said that if we are hearers only then we deceive ourselves. 2/3 of God's name is GO. Faith without works is dead. Mother wanted us to be men and women of our word and she wanted us to put action to those words.

You know, Mama wanted the best for her children. So does our heavenly Father. He wants His kids to have His best. Remember, you'll reap what you sow. The golden rule is still in affect. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Be thankful, don't curse God's blessing. Begin to thank Him for all he has done and is doing for you. Be about what God has called you to. It's time to perform the doing of it. You are precious in His sight. He has mighty plans for your life. I know, cause Mama said.

Rev. Cheryl Henderson
New Life Network

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