He who curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will go out in time of darkness.

Proverbs 20:20

Sadly, I confess that I had a tumultuous relationship with my mom. I felt justified for many years until I finally let God into this portion of my heart and spirit and He was allowed to deal with my sinful thinking and actions. So, I speak from experience both of being the child who did not honor her mother (or father but that is next month) and from a mother’s viewpoint now looking back on the raw ugliness of too many of my words and actions toward my mom. In those moments my mom wisely admonished me;

“Be careful, what goes around comes around.”

I think those words from a mother’s wisdom is at the heart of our key verse today. A child who curses (we discussed this word in depth a few days ago) either of his parents, will not have help in the dark times. He or she will not have God’s lamp when their life journey is uncertain, cloudy and darkness is all they see ahead of them. It’s interesting that God doesn’t say, “If they have a time of darkness” but rather, “His lamp will go out in time of darkness.”

In God’s principle of sowing and reaping it is “when” not “if”!

This principle is seen throughout the Bible and, if we are honest, it is seen pretty much daily in our own lives. It is a biblical principle that applies to both Jesus’ disciples and throughout an unbelieving world. 

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

The son or daughter mentioned in our key verse is the child who sows to their own selfish flesh and so they curse their mother from their own selfishness. And it is that same selfishness that they will reap when they are in their mother’s shoes and need a little kindness or patience or goodness. Instead of the Holy Spirit’s fruit discussed yesterday, this child will receive selfishness from others because that is what they sowed to their mother. 

But God!! We’ve talked a lot about restoration in these early days of About Mothers and that is because I believe that there is so much restoration needed between mothers and their children. Just think if there was full and complete healing of mother and child relationships just within our church families! Oh, what an impact that would have. Would that be the spark that is needed for true revival within God’s Church! God tacks on a promise to verses 7 and 8 in Galatians for those who reap within the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6:9-10

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, (including our mothers) especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Mine)