A Mother’s Day Card From God
May 13, 2007
Happy Mother’s Day!
Today is Mother’s Day – the day we think about, honor, and give praise to God for our mothers. It’s good to have a day to stop and think about our mothers – because a mother is one thing we all share in common.
Whether our mother’s are alive or whether they are not –
whether we live with them or we don’t –
whether we can easily share our lives with them or – for whatever reason – it is difficult to do so –
whether they have been examples of love and patience to us or have not showed us a lot of love in our lives –
we all have – or have had – mothers.
A good, Christian mother is indeed something to give praise to God for.
I believe that all mothers attempt to be good mothers and start out wanting good things for their children – but at times circumstances or things or choices get in the way and the relationship between a mother and her child can be strained. But – deep down – I think all mothers love their children – and want the best for them.
So – regardless of things that may have happened –
Regardless of our relationship with our mothers – good or bad – it’s god to have a day when we can think about, honor, and give praise to God for our mothers.
Being a mother is not an easy job.
In some ways it is harder now that it ever has been.
A woman of keen mind and understanding heart gazed at Whistler’s portrait of his mother. “It is a remarkable painting of a very lovely lady,” murmured the viewer, “but she is too peaceful and calm to be mother.”
Being a mother – especially in today’s world – is not easy.
Sure – there are more appliances and conveniences placed within the home with the goal of making the household chores easier – but in spite of all the modern day conveniences in then home, women today are probably busier than at any other point in history.
Expectations for women have changed. Today, a mother is expected to not only cook the bacon, she has to help bring it home as well. Even though she may work 40 hours plus, she is still expected to be the main housekeeper. She is often expected to keep the house, cook the meals, wash the clothes, and take care of the children. Their day is often from before sun-up to past sun-down.
Another change we have seen in recent years is the “super mom”. This is the woman that attempts to have it all, a good education, a great career, and be a great mother as well. Many women are finding that this is not that easy. Regardless of time schedules and calendar organizers, there is still only 24 hours to work with in a day. I know, there are occasions that I wish for 36 hours in a day so I could get everything done as well, but there is no such thing. It takes a great deal of organizing – and making choices – to get around to just what needs to be done.
You can forget about getting it all done.
All these expectations can lay a big guilt trip on the modern day women – whether she be a mother or not.
Not many households can be like the Cleavers on the old TV show “Leave It To Beaver” – or like the Nelson’s on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”. Maybe your family is more like the “Ozzie Osbourne Family” than it is the “Ozzie Nelson Family”!
So – what can I say today to help you with your struggle to raise a family in the best way you can?
I believe the Bible has a lot of encouragement for mothers. Certainly it has encouragement for us all – but I want to focus on mothers today.
First – listen to God’s word as the book of Proverbs describes a Godly wife and mother. Listen to Proverbs 33:10-31.
You may have noticed the sign in front of the Church as you arrived for worship or Sunday School today. It reads reads:
A mother needs:
Feet that are fast
Arms that are strong
And hands that are folded in prayer.
Fast feet.
Strong arms.
Praying hands.
Such are the things a mother needs to fill all the roles she has to fill these days – or to be the woman – the wife – the mother Proverbs describes in the passage I just read.
Fast feet
Strong arms
And particularly praying hands
are the only things that can help mothers – or any woman – or any man for that matter – be the people God has called us to be.
The passage from Proverbs we have before us this morning is not an easy one to live up to. It can be taken as just a few more unrealistic expectations to add to the list of unrealistic expectations laid upon mothers these days. But – before you just mark this passage off as an impossible list to live up to – I ask you to consider one point – God gives you strength to do these things – if not perfectly – then better than you can do these things on your own.
The fast feet –
The strong arms –
Are all made faster and stronger by the praying hands. It’s the praying hands that make all the things God expects of Christian mothers – all the things Proverbs 31 tells us about – all the real expectations that are placed upon Christian mothers these days – do-able.
God is with you as you pray for the strength to do all you need to do.
God is with you as you pray for fast feet – strong arms – and all the other things you need.
Many of us might have spent some time looking for Mother’s Day cards this week – looking for the one that says just the right thing in the right way. The “perfect mother’s day card” is just about as rare as the “perfect mother”! Usually you look around – then settle for one that is not quite perfect but covers what you want to say well enough.
Well – you know what?
God has selected a Mother’s Day card for all you Moms here today.
A copy is here in the pulpit.
There are copies in the pews.
Some of you brought your own copy with you from home.
I would dare say all of you have at least one copy in your house.
God’s Mother’s Day card for all you Moms here today is the Bible.
Mothers have a very difficult job – actually more of a ministry than a job. But God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood, then leave you to hang out to dry. He’s given you His Word to encourage you – to help you — to bless you – to comfort you – and to give you direction. The Bible is God’s Mother’s Day Card to you. You can pick out the verse or verses that apply to you as a Mother – and that can be God’s message to you as you strive to be the best Mom you can be.
For example –
When you feel discouraged.
Moms – have you ever felt discouraged?
What Mom hasn’t?
Motherhood isn’t for the weak or faint-hearted, is it?
Mothers need a lot of encouragement … and need it on a daily basis.
Listen to what God writes on the inside of His Mother’s Day Card to you in Isaiah 40:28-31:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
When you feel like giving up – don’t!
Why? Because Isaiah tells us that God “understands”.
Can you identify with being tired and weary? Isaiah reminds you that God strengthens the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Mothers — when you get discouraged, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card, read His message to you, and then –like the Paul in Philippians 4:13 – you can say:
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength
How about:
2.- When you feel angry
How about it – Moms?
Have you ever gotten angry with your kids?
If you haven’t, you need to be nominated for sainthood!
Listen to what God has written on the inside of His Mother’s Day card to you:
In Ephesians 4:26:
In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
God doesn’t say it’s wrong to be angry, but He does say that you need to control your anger. God’s message to you is to not stay angry.
There’s a purpose for anger — you’re supposed to get angry over disobedience, lack of respect, insolence, and other things. If you didn’t get angry over these things, but permitted and encouraged them, you wouldn’t be much of a Mother. But – you have to control it instead of letting it control you. You need to turn it into a useful tool, not a destructive weapon.
Moms — when you feel angry, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card and read His message to you. Don’t let your anger control you … let God control your anger.
How about –
3.- When you need help.
Moms — do you ever feel like you’re in this motherhood business alone? You might get a lot of help from all sorts of people – including your husband – but — do you ever feel like you need more help?
Open up God’s Mother’s Day Card to you, and see what He’s written in it to you in Proverbs 3:5-6:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
God is always there to help you. He’s got some other helpful words of encouragement:
Ps. 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Mom’s — you’re not alone. Paul writes in Phil. 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”
God’s not going to abandon you — He’s always there to help you.
When you feel discouraged –
When you feel angry –
When you feel that you need help –
God is with you giving you what you need.
Well – how about:
4.- When you feel alone?
Moms — You can have a houseful of children — all wanting your attention at the same time … and still feel alone – can’t you?
You can be in the middle of Wal-mart with kids hanging off the shopping cart and still feel alone.
Open up God’s Mother’s Day card – and you’ll see it has some words for you in those times too.
Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.”
Moms – – you’re not alone in raising your children. God hasn’t abandoned you.
Whenever you feel lonely, just open up God’s Mother’s Day card to you … and be assured that He is just a prayer away.
Well – how about:
5. When you feel tired.
Sometimes a “stay-at-home Mom” will be asked this question: “Do you work?” Your first impulse is probably to punch the person asking the question in the nose — your second impulse might be laugh hysterically until you cry.
|
Author and preacher Tony Campolo said that when his wife, Peggy, was at home fulltime with their children and someone would ask, “And what is it that you do, my dear?” she would respond, “I am socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo- Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation.” Then she would ask: “And what do you do?” Moms — open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He wrote to you: Mt. 11:28 – ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” You won’t find “rest” by hiding in the closet or by locking yourself in the bathroom. You’ll find “rest” in Jesus. Moms — when you get to the end of your rope — don’t hang yourself – but instead come to Jesus for some much deserved rest. Well – what about: 6.- When you are worried Show me a Mother who never worries! You can’t – can you? Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Mothers have very broad shoulders – but they don’t compare to the broad shoulders of God, your Heavenly Father. When you are worried, you’ve got Somebody to go to who is eagerly waiting for you to unload on Him. So – God has sent you a Mother’s Day Card – the Bible — to encourage you When you feel discouraged When you feel angry When you feel you need help When you are alone When you feel tired When you feel worried and – of course – in many other times of your life. Mothers have a very difficult job – actually more of a ministry than a job. But God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood, then leave you to hang out to dry. He’s given you His Word to encourage you – to help you — to bless you – to comfort you – and to give you direction. The Bible is God’s Mother’s Day Card to you. You can pick out the verse or verses that apply to you as a Mother – and that can be God’s message to you as you strive to be the best Mom you can be. Read your Mother’s Day card – the Bible – every day – and pray for God’s strength and guidance. Being a mother is a tremendous task – but God is with you through it. Yea – the Church sign might just have it right – A mother needs: Feet that are fast Arms that are strong And hands that are folded in prayer But – the fast feet – The strong arms – Are all made faster and stronger by the hands that pray – and keep God’s Mother’s Day card – the Bible – close – and of course the eyes that read it. That is, when they’re not looking to see what the kids are up to! Happy Mother’s Day! Amen
|
|
|
