mothersday-2

Mother's Day - Session 2

Here's another session / ideas for Mother's Day - thanks to ZK! These are some ideas only, not a normal session.

If people do not get on with their mum, do not see their mum or know her - or their mom has died, be sensitive. Even if there is no mother figure in their life, there will be others (hopefully) who are like a mum to them.

Dressing Up

Have some dressing up type fun one i.e. pantomime dame mum, earthy mum, hippy mum, hip-hop mum, posh mum, chav mum, emo mum - are some fun examples

Question - how do we see mums? Are they simply what they wear? If we strip the layers away, they are still a mum regardless of our expectations - and they still love us.  

God as a 'mom' (no, I'm not being a heretic.. Read on..)

For some of us, we have had bad experiences of our mom (or dad), so it's hard to appreciate Mother's Day. But God can be a mum and fill that role too - as well as our perfect father. God sees beyond the layers that we wrap ourselves in, to see the true person that we are beneath the layers of clothes, make-up or fronting.

Isaiah 66.13 - As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you..

In this bit of the Bible, God was talking about Israel and about how much he longed to comfort his people. He likened his love for his people to the love that a mother shows when comforting her child. It's amazing that when a baby cries, it often only stops when it is back in the loving arms of its mother. God longs to be like that to us. He loves us so much that we can go to him when we are upset, and when we are excited about things too!!

Images

Alternatively do something involving a game with bits on mothers from around the world and they have to work out who it is from clues, props i.e. pictures of things associated with the mothers in that country and then link it up with the same emotion no matter what country a mother loves - God's love etc.

Mother's Day Customs

There are a lot of mothers' day customs for around the world - I have done stuff with that before - you could use them to do practical stuff.

In UK and the US, we send cards, give gifts and have mother's day flowers for our mums. In Spain, the day has more of a religious significance where often the day is dedicated to mother Mary. In Germany, there was a historical tradition of giving medals to celebrate mothers giving birth.

Some other facts about mums generally can be found here - http://www.agirlsworld.com/amy/pajama/mothersday/momtrivia.html

Game

Get two teams to draw around a female - be careful! and create a picture of their ideal mum using whatever materials you give them - using lots of paper, scissors, glue, newspaper, magazine pictures, images from the internet and other crafty stuff.

There is a lot you can say about this - about how we see people, mothers, how God sees us, how we are made up differently..

Or make a picture of 2 woman up using sweets in teams - if you just do a face use a flan case with squirty cream for the hair! - a mum is made up of good stuff etc.

You can talk about the fruit of the Spirit - see Galatians 5.22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Bible Verses

Exodus 20.12 - Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Did you know that the Bible tells us to honour our mother. This may be hard but it comes with a promise - that you may live long in the land. Something happens when we respect and obey our mother. We may not always agree with them, but we should treat them well and let them know we love them.

CHALLENGE - Do you 'honour' your mum? Think of ways that you can do this.

Psalm 139.13 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

God is the one who shaped and created you. He thought of you before your mum ever did. Even if you have been told you were an 'accident' or that you were a 'mistake', this is a lie!! Why? Because God knew about you and created you!! He planned you, loves you and God doesn't ever make any mistakes! Inside your mum in the womb, God knitted you together by the amazing miracle that is pregnancy and birth. He put you together inside your mum. If it wasn't for your mum, there would be no you!

CHALLENGE - How can you show love back to your mum?

Luke 2.51 - Then (Jesus) went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 

A mom has a unique relationship with her child. She is the one who gives birth, who often breast feeds and comforts. A mother is also really proud of her children (usually). Often the mom is there when the father isn't. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was really proud of her son.

CHALLENGE - How can you be as a person so that your mom would be proud of you?