How many unfinished projects are there around the places we live? Taking the initiative to make one is a great Mother’s Day gift, especially if it’s a home improvement project that Mom has been hinting at for a while. Look for ways to bless her by finishing what has already been started or is waiting to be done. If there are no obvious projects left unfinished around the house, take inventory with Mom. Let her list 10 moderate things she would like to see fixed, finished, or improved in the house, then ask her to complete the list. This option works great if there is no room in the budget for a larger project.
4. Do the laundry…like all that…and put it away.
Laundry tends to be something that all moms hate. I remember as a new mom feeling grateful for laundry, especially when I was able to start working from home. It felt like a privilege to fold all the little socks and onesies and cuddle the warm, soft blankets as they came out of the dryer. Somehow, as the family grows, laundry gets bigger and takes more time. Everyone is getting busier and busier and time to do laundry seems to disappear until we can no longer find clean clothes to wear. Don’t just do laundry for mom on Mother’s Day; fold it and store it. Even in a house where everyone usually does their laundry, this Mother’s Day, go the extra mile. Wash and fold all towels and bedding.
5. Fasting after fights
Siblings seem to go through fighting phases, and it’s hard on a mom’s heart. If the household finds itself in one of these seasons, consider taking a break for a day and letting peace reign in the house. Mothers love all their children equally. It’s not just annoying and disruptive when kids argue, it’s choosing not to see the good that Mom sees in all of her children. God, infinitely wiser and more caring than our earthly mothers, places people on purpose. In families. With brothers and sisters. God loves every brother and sister equally. Embrace this truth and choose kindness on Mother’s Day over fighting.
6. Tackle the trail
Moms know the trail that everyone leaves around the house. Clothes left on the bathroom floor, in the corners of rooms, unmade beds, lights left on, food crumbs (in all spaces), dishes on the counter, scattered snack wrappers and cups. How many cups should a person actually consume per day? Coats on the floor, piles of shoes, bikes piled up in the garage. Few of us realize the wake we leave behind, but all moms do. When everyone goes to bed on the couch at the end of the day, the moms are still bending over and picking up everything. Especially on this day, Mother’s Day, take care of the trail so she doesn’t have to.
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