A Mother's Influence

A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE

ILLUSTRATION:

WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

My mother taught me RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, "You better pray the stain will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me LOGIC: From her decisive words, "Because I said so, that’s why."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY: "Keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about STAMINA: "You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is finished."

My mother taught me about WEATHER: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: "Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY: "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful Mom like you do!"

THANKS, MOM!

Today, I’m going to share a message with you on “A Mother’s Influence” – On Father’s Day, I will be sharing a message on “A Father’s Influence”

Definition of Influence: The action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother’s influence made her stay.

2 Tim. 1:1-5

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

[2] To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

[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. [4] Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. [5] I 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.

One of the most enjoyable movies to watch, and one that we try to watch every Christmas is “It’s a Wonderful Life”

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George’s modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George’s Uncle Billy loses the business’s $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in debauchery and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable.

He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.

The Influence we have on others is powerful, and the influence a mother has on her children is even more powerful.

Today, we are going to look at a few of these points of Influence, and I trust that each Mother will be challenged to be all she can be in God. Isn’t it amazing how Motherhood just never stops!

The first point on Influence we are looking at today is:

I. THE INFLUENCE OF PROTECTION

A Mother will usually be the first to stand up to protect a child, and it seems that God has even built that natural instinct into her.

Jesus used the idea of a Hen protecting and gathering her chicks under her wings when He spoke of His love and longing for His people:

Matthew 23:37

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

A Godly mother will do her best to reach out and protect her children from the ravages of life, and the constant attacks of the enemy upon the souls of her children.