Celebrating Mother's Day in Quarantine

Mother’s deserve an island but this year, we’ll have to settle for what we can hand make at home or get from Amazon Prime. If you’re celebrating your mom or grandmother today, here are a few ways to make her day special, even in quarantine. 

1. Clean!

Moms clean 368 days of the year (yes, that’s the correct number.)  On this special day, clean the kitchen, living room, and common areas so she won’t feel the pull to ‘straighten up’ as she walks through the house.  Bonus points if you clean while she’s asleep!

2. Make Her Favorite Meal

This year, instead of going to her favorite restaurant, make her favorite meal right at home.  Set the table with the good plates and actually sit down to enjoy each other's company.  Nothing brings families together like food! 

3. Express yourself!

Even if you’re no Shakespear, this is a great opportunity to let mom know how much you value and love her.  No need to write a five pager on your feelings but a simple “thank you”, “I love you”, or “we appreciate you” goes a long way.  If you have the ability, take a large poster board and use your creativity to make an extra large card, designed and colored by you and your family.  A special year deserves a special card! 

4. Set up a Facetime

For those who live apart from their mom or grandmother, take time to have a Facetime call that’s all focused on her!  She’ll love getting to connect and you’ll be able to let her have time to talk about her day.  Word of advice: Give her a set time for the call so she’s able to really enjoy the conversation. 

5. Go on an adventure

For the outdoorsy mom, having a family excursion can be an instant mood lifter.  Even if you only visit your backyard, spending time with your mom outside is a great way to create bonding time. 

6. Be with her

It’s easy to perform grand gestures and then shut ourselves back in our respective spaces.  If you’re able, use this day to spend just being with mom.  If she’s going outside to do some planting, volunteer to help!  If she’s finishing up a 500 piece puzzle, sit down and do it with her. Whatever she’s got on her agenda, be right there to make sure she’s got a partner.  

7. Pray over her 

While we think moms are superheroes (and they are), they can struggle, too.  At the beginning or end of mother’s day, gather your family to say a pray over your mom.  Start your prayer with thankfulness for her and end by asking God to bless her as an individual and as a mother.  Praying over your mom will make her feel like she has a host of people in her corner. 

The Importance of Prayer

Six Reasons Prayer is Important 

Today is National Day of Prayer and we pause to not only pray but understand the meaning behind it.  This day provides a nation-wide opportunity to humbly come before God, seek His guidance for our leaders and His blessings upon our country.  

We hope that if you don’t currently incorporate prayer into your daily life, we’d like to encourage you with six reasons why prayer is important: 

1.) It shows obedience 

Prayer isn’t just a suggestion.  It’s mentioned in over 130 verses throughout the Bible so there’s a huge emphasis on the importance of having a hearty prayer life.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”   

2.)It’s communication

Have you ever been in a one-way conversation? It feels lonely!  Imagine what God must feel like when we only come to Him once every few weeks, months, or even years.  

We’ve been communicating with God since Adam and Eve in the garden, so it’s always been a part of our relationship with Him as humans.  He wants to hear us, talk to us, and listen to what we have to say.  Sure, He knows everything but He delights in listening to us.  

 3.) It’s our way of expressing our desires 

 If you have kids, you know how awesome it is when you can bless your child. God feels the same way!  He wants to know our dreams, big and small.

The Bible is clear in Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  

4.) It allows us to change our hearts 

When we take our thoughts (which can often spiral) out of our own minds and put them into prayer, our problems often seem different in the light of God’s love.  Praying about situations, whether good or bad, allows us to begin seeing the world through God’s eyes. 

Not only that but we gain a better heart posture to approach our lives.  

 5.) It grows our confidence

 You’ve heard those lines in the movies: “God, I know we haven’t spoken in a while but if you could just…” That’s not an optimistic line.  It’s almost sheepish!  We are the children of the God of the universe and we ought to have confidence when approaching Him in prayer.  

Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  

6.) It keeps anxiety at bay 

 Talking about your worries with you family and friends is awesome, but why not talk to the one who can really do something about those worries?!  Our confidence as Christians is that we are seen, heard, and known.  No matter what burdens our hearts, we can find rest and peace in knowing that we’ve laid them down at God’s feet.  

Remember the scripture Phillipians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."