A Tribute To Our Mothers

5/14/06

 

 

2 Tim. 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

 

This scripture sure sheds light for those who would say that a young man can only learn his faith from his father.

 

Now, it's undeniable about the father's role in the family.  Many ungodly fathers have caused the demise of the family.  But on the other hand, many godly mothers have been the anchor of the family.

 

Today we are going to give honor to our mothers.

 

Rom. 13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

 

Eph. 6:2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

 

Countless times each day a mother does what no one else can do quite as well. She wipes away a tear, whispers a word of hope, eases a child’s fear. She teaches, ministers, loves, and nurtures the next generation of citizens. And she challenges and cajoles her kids to do their best and be the best. But no editorials praise these accomplishments—where is the coverage our mothers rightfully deserve?

James C. Dobson

 

A mother is God’s deputy on earth.

 

A mother understands what a child does not say.

 

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.

 

No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you—life.

 

No man is poor who has had a godly mother.

Abraham Lincoln

 

The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a real mother to her children. It does not have much glory to it; there is a lot of grit and grime. But there is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of a mother.

 

In a selfish society, too many people see motherhood as a barrier and children as a burden. In fact, some people consider children such a burden that they destroy them before they have an opportunity to become a blessing.

 

The womb of the mother is a holy of holies where God is at work (Ps. 139:13-18). How tragic that we turn that womb into a tomb, that holy of holies into a holocaust.

 

Ps. 139:13  For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸ Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

 

My own tribute to my mother.

 

Ÿ         My mom was the youngest of 11 children.

Ÿ         They were poor, very poor.

Ÿ         My mom married at the age of 19 to a man who was 40.

Ÿ         This man was an alcoholic and she became an alcoholic.

Ÿ         He had been married before and had children from a previous marriage.

Ÿ         My mom and her husband had a little girl, my sister--her name is Carol.

Ÿ         When Carol was a little girl her father died from alcoholism.

Ÿ         My mom was a broken and hurting young woman.

Ÿ         At the age of 25 my mom became pregnant with me out of wedlock.

 

 

Read from her Bible and the small one.

 

Notice the dates.  Mom gave me the small Bible before she was saved.

 

It was during this time that I preached my first sermon at the age of 6  1/2.

 

I want others to give appreciation to their mother.

 

My own mistakes as a father.

 

We all wish we would have been a better parent.

 

My own mother has so many regrets as a mother--yet it's an amazing thing, I don't see them.

 

We can't go back but we can go forward.  As long as we have life we can say "I'm sorry."  We can sow love and speak the words that we should have spoken maybe years ago.

 

Some have grown up without a mother.  Maybe she died when you were very young. 

 

Maybe the relationship was not good growing up and possibly is still not good.  Jesus is the master healer.  All the hurts and disappointments have to be given to Him.

 

Ps. 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

 

Evlyn, Gloria, Christine and maybe some others can come up to pray for those with these kind of needs.