Mother’s Day is right around the corner! We are making some last minute preparations at Liberty Church, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate all the moms this Sunday! I want to dedicate today’s blog to my amazing Mom and share one of the things that makes her such an inspiration.

Last year I was able to attend the C3 Conference in Dallas, and Pastor Jonny Hunt asked some questions that I still think about to this day.

What do you love most about your mother?

What do you miss the most about her?

What is one thing you’ve learned from her?

For me, there was one word that immediately came to mind.

Advocate.

It’s what I love most about her, it’s what I miss most about her (living on the other side of the country), and it’s one thing I’ve learned from her.

She always says, “If you don’t advocate for your children, who will?”

What’s more, she’s lived her entire adult life advocating for me and my two sisters, and now her grandchildren. She’s a helper, a fighter, and a supporter.

Webster’s defines advocate as: “one who pleads the cause of another, one who defends or maintains a cause, one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.”

This is who my Mom is! Especially in regards to my oldest son and navigating all of his health and development challenges, she has been there as much as she can, and she has taught me to stand up for him. Being an advocate will forever be a part of her legacy that is passed down from generation to generation.

As Christians, we are called to advocate for others – for the lost, the broken, the hurting, for children; we are called to come to their aid, to come alongside them, and point them to Jesus. It’s why we’re here. I love the vision and mission of Liberty Church – we exist to help others embrace grace, and experience the faith, hope, and love of Jesus. We’re created to champion others, to support them, to cheer them on as they run their race.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says that we are ambassadors of Jesus, His representatives. Not because we’re good enough, but because we are new creations in Christ! We now have His heart and mind, to be His hands and feet in this world.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

We carry this message of reconciliation; it’s the good news – the Gospel! It’s the turning point in our story, meant to be shared with those who have yet to discover the goodness of God.

We have a perfect example of an Advocate! 1 John 2:1 refers to Jesus as our Advocate with the Father in regard to the pardon of our sin – the Righteous One who speaks to the Father in our defense. The Greek word for “advocate” is parakletos (G3875), and it’s also the word used of the Holy Spirit as our Counselor or Comforter. It means “an intercessor, consoler; advocate, comforter.” In the widest sense of the word, it means “helper, aid, assistant.”

Consider today how you can take on the role of an advocate. Whether you’re at home, at work, at church, at the store… wherever you are, find ways to serve others in love, to support them or promote them. Take a moment to look people in the eye and see their hearts; see how you can make their day better, how you can meet their needs. Defend their cause, plead their case. Intercede for them; pray for them. Find strength in the Spirit, represent Jesus, shine God’s light.

And always remember our motivation for why we do what we do: God’s Love. 1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us.” We can love today because we’ve been so loved by God. He showed His love by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Since He’s loved us so, we ought to love one another. When we love, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. We can know and rely on His personal love for us, and we can love others with His love. We receive it, and we pour it out.

I also encourage you to answer those 3 questions about your mom; even if the relationship is or was strained… find the good and honor her. What you love most about her, what you miss the most about her, what you learned from her. Tell your mom (or someone else) the answers of how she has positively impacted you.

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mom, thank you for being a living example of an advocate… it hasn’t always been an easy road, but you have been faithful to stay the course as an advocate for your loved ones. We honor you this Mother’s Day (and always) for loving us in this way so well. ❤