Of Chicken Kiev and a Greek Tango

Another hour and Mother's Day 2009 will be history. I have been blessed for the past 22 years to have been among the ranks of mothers being honored on this day.

For many, it is a day of mixed emotions, or worse. For them, I pray God's comfort and peace. I am not without some lingering pains: my Grandma Pete died on a Mother's Day over two decades ago, and there were half a dozen Mother's Days where my own mother didn't know my name, thanks to Alzheimer's Disease.

But today, I awoke to a vase of coral and ivory roses on the kitchen table, plus a big pot of spanish lavendar and another of bog rosemary--gifts from my husband, Steve, and daughter, Joanna. After church they made me dinner, and what a dinner! Chicken Kiev, asparagas and rice pilaf. This was no frozen meal: Steve and Joanna made it from scratch, with lots of butter and garlic and parsley. But the most important ingredient was love.

My friend J. is newly divorced. She went to a concert last night and heard a song, "Greek Tango" sung by Constantinos Yiannoudes. It is a very sad song, wondering what happened to the love two people once shared. Here are the words:

Truly it is terrible. I have to admit
Your old love for me does not concern you anymore.

You hastily give me a typical "good evening."

You do not even give me your small beautiful hand.

As if it wasn't true

As if your tears never flowed for me.

As if it wasn't true

In those past years, when you lived for me

and I lived for you.

Each one hates the other.

And you have forgotten

all those sweet kisses you gave me.

And all our love is buried

in a drawer with yellowed letters.

As if it wasn't true,

as if your tears never flowed for me.

As if it wasn't true

In those past years, when you lived for me

and I lived for you.

Today J. taught Ephesians 4:30-32 to the high school group. It took great strength. The kids sat rapt, knowing that she spoke from her own experience. She compared a mother's love to Lord's. He is the source of all love, trust and intimacy. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption," Human love may fail. Even a mother's love will someday come to an end, but God's love is constant and true.

This could have been one of those painful holidays. Though J. will never again celebrate her wedding anniversary, God is good: her son presented her with a vase of flowers early this morning, sat beside her in worship, and thanked God for her during the open prayer time. Like all wise and good children, he knew that the most important ingredient is love.

Matthew 18:3-5

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.