I Told You So
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I Told You So
Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30
The words that are probably the most fun to say and yet the most difficult to hear are the words “I told you so.” It embarrasses the one receiving the words and brings joy and satisfaction to the one delivering the words. It is a phrase that its use has I believe been perfected by mothers. I say perfected because it seems that mothers are the one who seem to be able to use this phrase with so much kindness and grace that it is like you are being insulted and comforted at the same time. It is a true skill that is used in both raising children and in being a great “helpmate” for their husband. The rule seems to be that women can use the phrase for both children and husband however, the husband may only at times use it for his children. If the husband wishes to live a comfortable life in their home, then they do not dare to speak the words “I told you so” to their wives. They may think they are using it as graciously as she does however, she sees the truth right through it for she has perfected the use of those words.
Mother’s use this phrase in order to protect their children from hurting themselves and to protect their husbands from doing something stupid. I remember when Celeste had just started walking and we were at a kid’s water park in the summer. It was the kind that is a bunch of sprinklers and mist that you can walk through and it had a few slides too. I wanted Celeste to have a little bit of fun and freedom and to live and learn a little. Eimy however wanted to make sure that no harm would come to her first born. However, graciously she let me have my way and celeste was able to run around a little. However, she walked right passed a line for a slide and a boy came running up to the line and did not see her and ended up accidently hitting her and knocking her down flat on her face. She hit her forehead and it had little blood marks in her head as an imprint of the concrete. It was at that moment when I began to hear the words “I told you so” for the last 4 years.
Mothers are important to God and they are created in his image. Peter had the opportunity to help a woman who was being like a Christian mother to the poor in her community. When Tabitha got sick and died it left a great big hole in the lives of the people and within the church community. Tabitha was kind and nurturing which is an attribute of the Lord as well. Peter was called to her dead body as the women were mourning her death. He asked everyone to leave and then got on his knees to pray. It does not say what the words of his prayer were but it appears he was showing great submission on his knees. Afterwards he turns to look at her and with the authority given to him by the Holy Spirit, he commanded her to get up. She immediately woke up and she was healed. Many in the area began to believe because of the miracle they saw in a mother to the community being made well again from the dead.
Women are created in the image of God which means that they share many of their attributes with God. Caring and nurturing is one of those attributes. It is because of this attribute that often Mother’s are the most powerful influential force in the world when it comes to children. This was certainly true for Timothy as his grandmother and mother were the ones who truly influenced his faith in his upbringing. This is because for thousands of years the mother has been the one to nurture and care for the children until they are older. It is said that the father is the head of the home while the mother is the heart of the home. Without the heart the head would cease the function and without the head the heart would cease to pump. Satan knows this and it is because of that knowledge the family has been under attack to separate the heart and the head so that he can take the place of influence of the children.
Psalm 23 and Revelation 7 reveals the nurturing attributes of the mother. Psalm 23 shows a shepherd who nurtures and cares for his sheep. The shepherd leads the sheep to food and safety and provides a place where they will be loved and cared for. Revelation 7 tells us, “He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” This is what mothers do. However, our society has changed. No longer does the mother stay in the home to teach and influence her children but instead she goes out into the workforce while the public school system and daycares are left to do this job during the day. Our society’s cost of living actually makes it almost impossible for the mother of the average household to stay at home with their children. This in turn creates tension and problems in the home and causes the head and the heart to begin to compete with each other instead of working together. This is why it is important to invite Jesus into the home to help guide the head and heart to work together instead of against each other. The home needs the mother in the household to be present and ready to say the words “I told you so.” It is from the educational moments of these words that mothers influence their children.
In our Gospel reading today Jesus has some frustrated Jews who gather around him to ask him a question. It is something that bothers them deeply. They want to know if he is the Messiah. They ask him to tell them plainly. However, as Jesus explains, “I already told you so.” “Yet you do not believe.” Jesus says he cannot be clearer than this. It is like a mother that has to grab the children by their cheeks and position them so that their eyes are looking right at them. They need their attention. So, Jesus is doing this and basically is saying, “Look at me, I am the Messiah.” Yet these Jews still don’t get it. Apparently, it is not plain enough for them. They instead try to stone him because they don’t believe him. But Jesus shows this to be true again because he is able to miraculously slip away even though they are closing in on him.
Jesus is the only man who ever lived who could use that phrase of “I told you so” as graciously as a mother can. This is because he represents part of that image as well. A mother tells her children to stop running around the house because someone is going to get hurt. Then someone does actually get hurt and she then uses the words, “I told you so.” It is used to protect and care for the children. Sometimes a mother gives a command to their children to do something and the child asks why they have to do that. The answer the receive is, “Because I told you so.” However, mothers have found a way to use these words to encourage their children as well. They are the ones who tell their children that they can achieve their dreams. They are the ones who tell that they will succeed. When they do the mother says, “I told you so.” Be thankful for you’re the influential women in your life today. Why you may ask? Because I told you so.