A Mother's Anointing

Years ago my father told me a story. In our household there were five children. My father was a blue collar worker and sometimes there were no jobs to be had. I remember him working 3 and sometimes 4 jobs just to make sure that we had the basic of necessities. Because money was always tight, my father did not always tithe. He gave what he could when he could, but it was sparingly at best. My father told me that my mother talked him into tithing and to believe that if he gave to God first and trusted Him, everything else would be taken care of. Out of his love for my mother, he began to tithes. It was not because of what the pastor, Sunday school teacher, bible study teacher or any other Church leader had said to him, it was because of my mother. He had witnessed the faith of my mother and believed her. He told me that after he started tithing and placing his faith in God, God always provided for “us”. Notice I said “us” his children and not just “him”. God is about family. My father honored God because he believed what my mother said about God taking care of things when we put Him first. When God proved Himself to my father, my father never stopped tithing and giving more than his tithes to the Church. Even on his death bed he wanted to ensure that his tithes got to Church. I share this with you because it was not the Church leaders that brought this change in my father, it was my mother, his wife.

Paul also bears this out when he wrote to Timothy. Timothy was a young pastor who was going through some difficult situations in his congregation. When Paul wrote to him the second time, he reminded Timothy of the faith that was in him that had also existed in his grandmother and his mother. 2 Timothy 1:5: “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” Paul reminded Timothy of the faith that had been passed down to him – not through his fathers, but through his mother and grandmother. And one thing we need to keep in mind is that during this time it was very much a male controlled society and for Paul to credit Timothy’s faith to his mother and grandmother was something special.

Conclusion

I wish I had more time. If I had time this morning I would love to talk about those mothers who stayed awake during the night because their child was sick. I would love to talk about how they prayed for healing and was willing to give up their lives for their child. If I had time I’d love to tell you about the mothers who went to the school, found out what their child was doing wrong and helped the teacher get that child back in order. If I had time, I’d love to tell you about those mothers who would go into the kitchen and find the cupboard nearly bare and yet when their child came to the dinner table there was food on the table. If I had time, I’d love to tell you about that mother whose child went to college because she had the forethought to plan ahead for their child’s education. If I had time, I’d tell you about the mother who came to the decision that their child must leave their house because they refused to live by the house rules. Only if I had more time I could tell you stories about mothers who made sure their children were at Church on Sundays, at choir practice on Monday, at Bible Study on Wednesday and did volunteer work on the weekend because they had just too much free time. If I had just a little more time I’d tell you about the mothers of old who walked amidst criticism; who withstood abuse to protect her children; who set a standard for their children; who were not afraid to say no and mean it. If I had just a little more time, I’d tell you about those mothers who are now in heaven but because of the work they did while here on earth, we are here.