Tomorrow is the day to honor all mothers. However for some this can be a hard time. Unmarried women, divorced women, might not complain outloud but in the quiet canyons of their heart is a hurting pain.
Take Susan; she is unmarried. and is now 38 and hears the steadily increasing volume of the biological time clock. Time is running out for her to be a mother.
Or Betty: Divorced. This will be the first year she has no corsage. Her children are too young to do it and it is no fun to buy one for yourself.
Some have lost a mother or are about to lose her. Some have a difficult time at mothers day. But each of us has been influenced by a mother. Let's think about one of the finest mothers in the entire Bible.
There was a mother named Monica. When her son became a teenager it was like living with a total stranger. Then Her son broke her heart by leaving the church. After much conflict he finally ran away and took up with some local scum of the earth. Monica continued to pray. She found out that her son planned to sail to Italy in a great ship and live with some buddies in a life of sin. She pleaded for him not to go. He went anyway. Once in Italy he met AMBROSE and he led him to Christ. Monica's son was the great Christian AUGUSTINE.
Mothers, pray for your children. Even when it seems that your prayers are not being answered, don't give up praying for your son or your daughter. Never give up. Remain on your knees. You may be the only person praying for your child. Mary was a mother of prayer. Notice.....
LUKE1:46-55 records one of the beautiful prayers of Mary which she sang as a song to God. Here are the actual words written by Jesus own mother. This is a spectacular prayer. Obviously Mary knew God in the depths of her heart. If you are to be a success as a mother you must be a Mother of prayer. No wonder Jesus did so well. She was a woman of prayer before she had Jesus. Mothers, you owe it to your children and yourself to find salvation in Jesus before you find yourself pregnant. That is the proper order. Of course God can still work for you if the order is reversed, but how wonderful a treasure, for a baby to have a Christian mother.
Joseph and Mary were in stage 3. Betrothed to each other. Some time during that betrothal Mary said: I am Pregnant. This was devastating news. Joseph's first thought was to Divorce her privately.
Notice something of admiration here about Mary. The Bible says that they had not come together yet. She had high standards. She dated Joseph because she knew she could trust him. They were a Godly couple. Never date someone that you can't trust.
Young single women, Let me speak frankly to you today. Let me suggest a gift you can give to your new husband on your wedding day. Give yourself to your new husband as a fresh unopened package on the day of your marriage. All the other packages on that day will be wrapped up....unopened. You plan to be the prettiest gift of all! Unopened! Reserved for your special husband.
All too often today, the girl is already with child before the marriage. This was true of Mary. But which girl today can say the Holy Spirit did it? Mary is an example for all young people today. Don't do it before marriage. Reserve yourself for that special person in your life. Mary was a pregnant virgin. She submitted to Gods special will for her life. Joseph found out about it. Here they were Betrothed and he does not know what to do. She said: This is of the Lord. Now I want to give Joseph credit here. He believed Mary.
Children today need mothers who are honest. Mothers of character. Mothers of love. Mothers who know Jesus.
Never date a person that you could not marry. If you want to raise your future children as Christians, then marry a Christian who will go to church with you. Look for an un-selfish Christian gentleman who loves Jesus and loves you.
Joseph and Mary were married when she was 15. The tradition in Palestine called for a girl to be married at age 14. Most couples were engaged at 13 and married at 14. But here was Mary still unmarried at her great age of 15. Usually when you waited that long you might get stuck with a shepherd or a poor man. But Mary got a Carpenter. A private business man. MARY WAITED. And God blessed her for that. You don't have to rush into marriage.
When Joseph took Mary as his wife it was a remarriage. He was older. His kids were normal and Her son was "Perfect". Can you imagine the possible arguments? Somewhere along the way Jesus had to bury his step father. They had a rough time. No different than many homes today.
2:7-- She brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in RAGS. That is the meaning here. Wrapped up in strips of cloths which she had. Possibly she tore one of her meager dresses into strips. She had very little, but she did not quit. Mothers are like that. They improvise. A good mother makes the best of the circumstances of life. She gives her all for her children.
I read a poem that reminds me of my own mother:
You are the treasure I cannot buy.
You are my piece of foreign sky.
You are my blue Italian lake.
You are the trip I did not take.
You are my Honolulu moon.
You are my heart's unuttered tune,
You are the bulb I did not light.
You are a candle in my night.
You are my child.
"And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with his babysitter"
NO! They saw Jesus with his mother. Mary was not a mother by absence. Now I am not condemning people if circumstances dictate some child care. But let's strive to maximize our parenthood. I know we can vote by proxy but how much better to raise our children by actual presence.
And there are some few mothers who are AWOL while they are at home. The mother trying to digest soap operas while her children are doing who knows what? Or she lives on the phone while her children peruse HBO or MTV or who knows? Mothers, spend quality time with your children. Let's do as Mary did.
The second time she lost Jesus was when He was on the cross. Gone from her Three days. It is hard to lose your son when you are already a widow. Joseph either died or was killed. Possibly the other brothers were also dead. Jesus had to place His dear Mother into the care of one of His disciples. Mary risked her life to be with her Son there by the cross. This shows MARY WAS A LOVING MOTHER.
Mothers; love your children. Your children need your love.
Barbara Barton was a loving mother. She lived in Oregon and delivered TWINS in 1994. She refused treatment for leukemia during her pregnancy because that could have harmed her babies. She died Jan. 22, 1995 leaving behing her husband and twins and a 4-year old daughter. She, like all true mothers, placed her children above her own life.
Mothers are special. Their love is priceless. Back in the old days the UPS delivery drivers had to get your signature before they could drop off a package. Now they just leave it there and the dogs shred it and eat it up. One day the driver knocked on the door and a little boy answered. HI, Little fellow. Are you all alone? Yes, Mom is in the hospital and me and my brother and my 2 little sisters and my daddy, we are here all alone!
When the mother is gone, you are all alone! The mother makes the house into a home. And Jesus makes the lady into a great mother. Invite Jesus into your heart. Jesus will make you into a woman of integrity. Your children deserve the best. With Jesus in the Mothers heart--happy happy home. "Her children arise up and call her BLESSED" Proverbs 31:28.
Happy Mothers day!
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last updated 2/3/98 by Bob Beckett.