Mom’s are a blessing. Join us this Sabbath as we study several stories of mothers who exhibited love, sacrifice, and persistence in the Bible.
Handout | PowerPoint | Transcript
Hello everyone. Between both of those videos, I feel like, what am I doing up here? Let’s pray. Father in heaven, Lord, mothers are a blessing as we spend some time together in the Word lead and guide us. In Jesus name. Amen.
To all the moms. And to my mom, who’s watching, because she’s not here. Right? She didn’t sneak in. All right. Happy birthday. Just kidding. Happy Mother’s Day. Thought I’d mess with you. Moms. I think you have the hardest job. I really do. I think that you have one of the hardest jobs in the world.
Have you ever wondered where Mother’s Day came about, at least recently? Maybe there’s another version in the past, but it was in the 1800s, 1864, where Anna Jarvis witnessed the aftermath of the Civil War through the eyes of a child. Her own mother, Anna Maria Reeves Jarvis, spent the war organizing women to help nurse soldiers from both sides, both the north and the south, and tried to build a community together. After the war, Anna Maria started Mother’s Friendship Days to help reconcile the families who had been divided by the conflict. And throughout her life, Anna Maria embodied the ideals of a Victorian motherhood. She gave up her dreams of going to college in order to tend to her husband, who was actually older, and also her four children. She bore the loss of seven, seven other children with grace. She taught in church for over 20 years, and she stayed very active in her work. In 1905, she passed, and her daughter, who was devastated by this, two years later, she got the idea to found a memorial or holiday remembering her mother and all of the mothers who she essentially felt could never be thanked enough.
So it was in 1908, in Grafton where Mother’s Day was first celebrated, in Philadelphia, also where she lived as an adult. And later then, in May 8, 1914, a resolution by the US Congress established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Now, what does all of this have to do with us? Well, in Scripture, is there any evidence that we should honor or exhort or celebrate our parents? Mothers. Should we? In Exodus 20, verse 12. Let’s quickly just go to Exodus 20, verse 12. Okay. I think it’s a famous passage many of us know, but it’s always good just to remind ourselves. Exodus 20, verse 12, it says, Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Okay. And what’s unique about this particular commandment? Okay, it’s the fifth commandment and the 10 commandments. What is unique about this commandment? It’s the first commandment with what? A promise that you might live long in the land.
Now, let’s just also really quickly, let’s flip over to Ephesians. Ephesians is to the right in the New Testament. Okay? And I want to go to Ephesians chapter six. And Paul remembers the ten Commandments. And he. He also wants to point out as well, okay, this is for the kids. Okay? So kids, pay attention. Right? Ephesians, chapter 6, starting at verse 1. Children, what? Obey. Want to obey? Sometimes obey your parents and Lord, for this is what honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment, with the promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life, long earth. So there is evidence, a scriptural basis, that we should honor and recognize our parents, especially for moms.
Okay, now, you know, what are some of the responsibilities of mothers? There was actually a study done, and somebody kind of tongue in cheek pointed out that moms are. Now, this is not for every family, but general, okay. Moms tend to be the chief financial officer of the household and also the operating officer, also the logistics analyst, the housekeeper, the laundry manager, the chauffeur, the public school teacher, the facilities manager, the meetings and event planner, the kitchen manager, the assistant athletics director, the staff nurse, the bookkeeper, the physical therapy supervisor, the nutrition director, the consumer loan officer, the fast food cook, the server, the conflicts manager. I like to turn that into the referee, the interior designer, and the fundraising coordinator. That’s a lot of hats, moms. You wear a lot of hats. To be a mom means you need to be adaptable.
When you look through the scriptures, you’ll find a number of examples of moms. And just a couple of moms that I want to highlight. In 1st Samuel 1 and 2, you find a mother named Hannah who desperately she goes to the temple praying and seeking from the Lord that all she really wants. She wants to have a child. And as she’s praying, there’s someone thinking, oh, she’s drunk. She’s not. She’s pouring her heart out to have a child. As scripture goes. You know, she points out she has a son, and when she has a son, she cares and weans for him. And then what does she. She gives the child to the Lord to serve in the temple. What an unbelievable act of sacrifice. Now, however, if you read, she actually does have additional children after that. But that first child…
We also think of Mary, the mother of Jesus. We also think of her cousin Elizabeth, who was older when she had her first son and only son, John the Baptist, that we know of. Sarah Abraham’s wife was 90 years old when she gave birth to a son. I also think of Hagar, who also had Ishmael. And then one of my favorite stories is that of Jochebed, the mother of Moses, who, when she realizes that her son is at risk, what does she do? She sends him down the river, praying that the Lord will protect him. Of course, we know the story of Moses. And finally, there’s also the story of Ruth. What is one of the. How should I say? What is Something that is consistent through all of that, runs through the story of each of these moms. In some ways, moms experienced sacrifice.
Motherhood, in many ways, is rooted in sacrifice. That sounds so ominous. And yet, let’s look at it. Okay? When you have your child, moms, you were everything for that child. Amen. To feed them, to clothe them, to nurse them, to change the diaper. Right? You were their source of security. You were their emotional support. You nurtured them.
There’s a famous quote by Julie B. Beck that says there is eternal influence and power in motherhood. Think about that. You are a nurturer. You’re an educator. You guide and educate. You are your child’s first teacher. Moms, you are a role model. Okay? I’m not just leaving you out. Dads, we’re going to get to you next month, all right? Bill’s going to take care of that. But kids, they watch you and what you do and also what you say. I love watching videos where the kids act out and reveal the true thoughts and actions of their parents. You ever watch that? And of course, the parents are just horrified. But moms, you are also their protector. And in this world, that can be very challenging in a very scary place. You have to take steps to care and watch out for your kids, but at the same time, too, not to shelter them completely where they’re completely innocent either.
It’s interesting as I watch my sisters who have their own kids, okay, Teenagers and young kids navigating this challenge, you know, growing up as a kid, I just wasn’t aware of all of that. But now watching them and seeing the care and the concern that they place in their children to make sure that they’re safe, that they’re grown, that they’re being educated, but also making them not immune, what’s out there, and the fact, too, is a mother’s role never ends. It may look different as they get older. You know, when they’re a child, you are Their everything you care and provide for them. But then you also become a coach. You help them to see how to navigate in this world. And eventually, when they leave the nest, it’s hard to let them go. Amen. Because you want to care, you want to protect, but you have to at some point recognize that now you have to allow God to protect and watch over them. And also pray that as you have taught them and grown that they will make the right decisions. And when they don’t, it can be very challenging. Amen. Where now from coach to now advisor. When they have their first child, when they experience a loss, all of those things that you have already perhaps already experienced and have wisdom that you can share. Relationships may change from, you know, nurturer to a coach to a confident advisor. But again, a mother’s. A mother’s job never ends.
So what is it? What can we take from all of this? Moms, you do a lot that we probably don’t even recognize. You know, kids, when I was younger, I thought I knew everything. A teenager knows everything, right? Mom and dad, oh, we know so much. And yet we really. We really don’t. We don’t know anything. We don’t know heartache. We don’t know a lot of things. Mom and dads, they know quite a bit. And sometimes, you know, as kids, sometimes it can be very, very frustrating.
But you know what? I want to encourage you. Be grateful and thankful for your mom, okay? Be grateful and thankful for your mom even when you don’t understand her, okay? Even when it seems like she’s being mean by asking you to take out the trash and do your dishes, clean your room, believe it or not. What is she doing? She’s actually teaching you life lessons that you’re not even aware of yet. And maybe when she says, no, you can’t go do this or that. Maybe there’s a reason that maybe you are not aware of yet. Moms and dads are filled with experience of life lessons learned in a good way and sometimes the hard way. They’re not out there to be malicious. They want to help you grow and to help shape and mold you. So even when it’s hard to understand k trust your parents. Take into consideration also your parents. Your parents are not perfect even growing up. They have their own challenges and things that they’re dealing with. Maybe their job is extremely stressful and it’s exhausting. And then they have to come home and you’re being difficult. How does it make them feel when you’re being disrespectful? How does it make them feel? It can be a lot. Give grace to your parents. As you get older, you’ll understand the sacrifices that they have made.
Barbara Walters once said, motherhood is tough. If you want a little wonderful creature to love you, you can get a puppy. And puppies are wonderful. And, yeah, they can be difficult. They could chew your shoe up. They could, you know, steal your favorite spatula, gnaw at it. But a child, oh, that’s another level. Yes, dogs are like children. Yeah. But. Yeah, they may bite and nibble on your feet, but children as well, they can be difficult as well.
One thing I do want to recognize too, though, for those mom to those ladies who would like to be moms and the dads who would like. To those who would like to be dads, and you haven’t quite had your child yet or you don’t know when that’s going to happen. I do see. I do see and feel your frustration, maybe even your anger. And that’s okay. What I do recognize, though, and maybe recommend as well, is if at one point God allows you to get married and to have kids. Until that day, though, continue to serve the Lord faithfully and find an opportunity to be a bonus mom. I have been blessed with many wonderful people, men and women, who have, in a sense, been a bonus mom and a bonus dad in my life, who maybe, you know, sometimes it’s really awkward to talk to your parents sometimes. But that one other person you can trust or maybe you don’t trust, but also, sorry, not just trust, but sometimes is willing to have the hard conversations with you when you need to hear them. There’s a lot that we can learn from. You have much to offer, so don’t just think that you’ve been abandoned. There’s still something wonderful that you can do out in the world. Now, kids, tomorrow’s Mom’s Day. Maybe you’re thinking, what should I get Mom? Okay, I’m gonna give you some examples of what not to give them, okay? And husbands, dads who think you’re trying to be funny. Let’s not do this, okay? There was a survey done some time ago, a British survey, where 40% of moms received an unwanted Mother’s Day gift. And yet some of them, they were just too polite. You know how the British are. They’re too polite to say that they did not appreciate the gifts. Here’s the worst 30 worst mother dates gifts. A handful of them. I can’t believe some of them. Number one. Wow. This is bold deodorant. Why? Why? Okay, number two, a fire extinguisher. Okay, number three, do not give her cleaning supplies a stick of French bread, salad dressing, popcorn. Although I love popcorn. I don’t know why that’s there. Okay, ants. Maybe an ant farm for Mom. Don’t give your mom hair dye. Don’t give her a screwdriver. Don’t give her a toilet roll. Don’t give her a calculator, and definitely do not give her car parts. Okay, now, in terms of cards. Okay, do not buy and give these cards. The first card is where it says, mom, thanks for always checking on me. And inside the card is a cell phone with 24 unanswered calls from your mother. Okay? If you have not answered within 24, you’re being disrespectful. Okay. All right. Unless, of course, you’re at work and whatnot. But, hey, the other one is. Well, I guess this Mother’s Day’s card is late. Looks like someone wasn’t raised properly. Mmm. Mmm. All right, the other two more. I’m awesome. You’re welcome. To the luckiest mom ever. I sometimes, because I’m the oldest, I’m sometimes Not every Mother’s Day, but since I am the first, I say you’re welcome. All right? And the last one, please do not give this. Kids, do not give this to your mother. Mom, I love you. Lowe’s with a picture of a laundry basket. Can you please do my laundry? Not funny. All right, So I want you to reflect, okay? I want you to reflect. What have you learned and appreciated from your mother? What do you appreciate about your mom? What have you learned from her? Secondly, this week, I want you to give thanks to God for her. Now, you may not have the best relationship with her right now, too. I want to encourage you, though. I want to encourage you. Try to amend your relationship. Try to amend your relationship. And at the very least, if you have to love from a distance, at least still appreciate because she brought you into this world. Without her, you would be nothing. So give thanks to God and show her gratitude to your mother. This is your reminder. If you can’t see her tomorrow or Today, text, call FaceTime, make a video, and send her your appreciation. Even if you don’t get her anything, what she would love more than anything is to know that you are thinking of her and that you love her. So show your gratitude and give thanks to the Lord. And with that, kids, go. Love your moms, Moms. Thank you. I love you, Mom.
Father in heaven, thank you for all the wonderful moms that you have blessed us with. And though, Lord, we know moms are not perfect. We know, though, that they are meant to help, to grow, to nurture us and care for us. Thank you, Lord, in spite of even all the grief and and difficulties we give our moms, thank you for them, for without them we would be nothing. And though, Lord, as well, I pray for those whose mom is no longer with us and maybe is resting now. Thank you for them as well. And to those, Lord, who are waiting to be moms, calm their hearts, give them strength and courage, and serve where they can, as well as a bonus Mom. And until that day you return, Lord, be with us and guide us. In Jesus name. Everybody said Amen.
Grace and peace. Happy Mother’s Day.