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While in college, I had a part-time job in a jewelry store. Christmas, by far, was the busiest season of the year. However, the second highest sales were generated in relation to Mother’s Day. People really appreciate their mothers, often purchasing gifts of gold chains or jewelry!

I also remember in those days that placing a phone call to our moms on the afternoon of Mother’s Day was difficult. Sometimes my brothers or sister were tying up mom’s phone line. At other times, the limited circuits in the old telephone system would be full, since everyone in the country seemed to call mom at the same time! But when the call got through, we wished Mom a happy Mother’s Day and expressed our love. Perhaps you did this yesterday.

But communication with mom is usually a two-way street. There are times, like yesterday, when we express our love and appreciation. At other times, we listen to what our mothers teach us.

This is how the book of Proverbs describes mothers. They teach us right from wrong. As Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” (NIV)

This passage flips the idea of giving a gift of jewelry on Mother’s Day on its head. The teachings of our mothers are like chains adorning our neck. They give us our understanding of right and wrong.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Have you noticed that people want to look good? We buy all kinds of clothing and accessories to enhance how we look. But I’ve noticed that fashions change a lot. Take women’s hats and gloves. They were all the rage decades ago in the United States. Now, not so much. Oh, women still wear hats. But they seem to be driven by function. They are either for warmth in winter or shade in summer. Just wearing a hat and gloves, especially indoors, to make a style statement is less common.

If you think stylish hats are less common, what about wearing a garland of flowers on your head? Rarely do you see that! Oh, you might see it at a wedding or some tropical resort. We just don’t adorn ourselves with flowers much, but we do wear gold jewelry. Just look at the gold chains that are sold! Men and women both wear gold chains. That’s because men and women both are concerned with how they look.

Do you want to look good? Then listen to instructions about right and wrong. No, really! Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”(NIV)

Today, be sure to pay as much attention to the teachings of God as to clothing and accessories! May they grace and adorn you!

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.