MINISTER'S MOMENT
We do not give up
CHARLOTTE AUSTIN

Charlotte Austin McCary's Chapel United Methodist Church

The seat belt on our spirit

Automobile safety is much more regulated than it used to be. Today we have laws requiring various types of child safety devices. Some of us no doubt grew up with a different kind of child-restraint system. Author Judith Voirst reminded me of this when she wrote in her book Imperfect Control:

"This year I received a Mother's Day card that pictured a mother driving a car, her son in the passenger seat and her outstretched are protectively flung across his chest. I've heard a great deal from my sons about my overprotective tendencies but I think that this card's message said it best. The message said, 'To mom, the original seat belt.' "A mom's protective reach has always been the saving seat belt for her family. Of course sometimes the role of "mom" is provided by a father, a grandmother or a foster parent. Additionally, this protective seat belt takes different forms in different families. Some moms offer the seat belt of continuous presence, some the seat belt of role model, some the seat belt of stability, and some moms offer a seat belt of gentleness.

As we honor mother love, Pastor Leonard Sweet reminds us that when we participate in Christ's death and resurrection in baptism we invite Christ to be born into our soul. This risen Christ-love is the seat belt on our spirit."

This gentle binding on our heart and soul gives us the courage to reach out to others and share the wonderful story of Christ's love.

The greatest love we can express is not mother's love or father's love, not romantic love or humanitarian love. The greatest love, which we are called by Christ to be filled with to overflowing, is disciple love."

•The most successful and adored mothers have raised their children with disciple love.

•The most honored and revered fathers have extended unbounded disciple love.

•The most venerated and beatified servants of God have embodied disciple love.

On Mother's Day, on any day, disciple love doesn't take a day off. It rejoices every day to have yet another chance to show itself to everyone.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34-35)