Year End Appreciation Event – Mother, the Eternal Home

The end of a calendar year and beginning of another is a transition that prompts many to reflect on the past year. While reminiscing upon our memories, we may forget to express our gratitude to those who have been silently supporting us.

On 30 December 2018, the World Mission Society Church of God Singapore (SGWMSCOG) held a year-end appreciation event titled “Mother, the Eternal Home”. It was an opportunity for members to invite family members, friends, colleagues and even acquaintances to show their appreciation for their support over the past year. There were activities  such as Gimbap-making, musical and drama performances as well as brief sharing about the Bible.

Gimbap (김밥), being highly nutritious and sumptuous, is a favourite among Korean mothers who pack them into lunchboxes for their children with love. This is one of Korea’s popular traditional dishes which includes seaweed(Gim) and rice(Bap) as its main ingredients. This dish is similar to the japanese Sushi, but instead of adding vinegar to rice, fragrant sesame oil is used. Pickled radish, carrots, eggs, spinach and seasoned meat are some of the common ingredients sliced and rolled into the Gimbap. At the event, ingredients and gloves were prepared in advance for the guests to take their pick and create their own versions of the popular delicacy. These sessions was guided by a host introducing its origins and some tips and tricks in preparing the dish to its finest. The final product was paired with refreshments which the guests shared with their loved ones.

There was also a choir performance of the songs “In the Love of Mother” and “You Raise Me Up”. “In the Love of Mother” expressed the joy and peace a soul is blessed with under the proverbial wings of mother. “You Raise Me Up” is a contemporary track that reminds us to not forget the ones who are always there for us at our lowest point and picks us up. Such sentimental lyrics of the songs sung along with the melodious tunes of the orchestra moved the hearts of the audience.

The stage was quickly replaced by a play-act which began with a setting of a humble home to a mother and daughter pair, ‘Ma’ and ‘Mei’. At dusk, Mei returned home after a long day after school and started to do her assignments. Filled with concern and worry, her mother asked “Mei, have you eaten?’. Being burdened by her deadlines, Mei was slightly annoyed and answered “Yes…” before entering her room to continue her work. Her mother knocked on her door, seeking her help on sending a WhatsApp text message on her phone. Mei ignored, hoping her mother would leave her alone. As her mother did not stop, Mei finally opened the door and exclaimed, “didn’t I just teach you yesterday?!” Mei’s mother apologised and sincerely implored Mei to teach her once more. Reluctantly, Mei guided her mother. However, despite a few attempts, Mei’s mother still got it wrong. Mei lost her patience and yelled, “Ma! Why don’t you just give up?! You will never get it!” Mei returned to her room and slammed the door behind her.

Moments later, Mei received a notification on her phone. It was a message from her mother in the living room, “Mei, I love you”. Mei was engulfed with remorse as she regretted her actions. She looked back on how her mother was full of patience in teaching and guiding her since young. Mei hugged her mother and apologized to her for throwing a tantrum. Instead of reprimanding Mei, her mother comforted her saying that it was fine and that she was the best daughter she had.

Many could relate to this familiar scenario and could appreciate the patience of their mothers. While we  lived as masters, our mothers served us unconditionally, ensuring our needs are met before their own. Where does this altruistic love originate from?

God Elohim who created all the living creatures made maternal instinct inherently apparent in all mothers.

Romans 1:20  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Elohim God expresses their invisible qualities through their creations. God’s eternal power and divine nature can be seen through the living creatures. God created mothers with the maternal instinct of performing the role of sheltering and protecting their offspring. This source of love from our mothers can ultimately be traced back to God.

Genesis 1:26-27  Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Mankind was created from God’s image. The male image comes from God the Father and the female image of God comes from God the Mother. The source of love found in mothers comes ultimately from God the Mother.

Galatians 4:26  But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

The audience could relate strongly to the sacrificial and unconditional love that can only be given by mothers. To have a deeper insight and understanding of God the Mother, many stayed back to examine the existence of our Heavenly Mother through the bible; the best way to end the year!