A Protective Mother

A PROTECTIVE MOTHER

Exodus 2:1-4

#MothersDay

INTRODUCTION… Famous Mothers

Today is Mother’s Day! It is a day to honor those women in our lives who have made an eternal difference. Maybe it was the woman who gave birth to you, but it also may be an aunt, a sister, or another dear woman who has changed your life for the better.

To warm us up to the idea of mothers, let’s review some famous mothers:

The first mother that comes to mind is Mother Teresa. Oddly, Mother Teresa was never a mother, but did have great influence. She was born in 1910 in what is now North Macedonia. Her father died when she was young, and her mother raised her and her siblings with a deep sense of compassion and faith. At 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic order, and moved to Ireland for training. In 1929, she went to India, where she spent most of her life. Mother Teresa initially taught at St. Mary's High School for girls in Calcutta where she learned about the severe poverty and suffering in the city. In 1946, while traveling to the hills near Calcutta, she experienced what she described as a "call within a call", urging her to leave her comfortable life and dedicate herself entirely to the poorest of the poor. She then left her teaching post to found the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 which was established to care for the "hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." That is a great mother who was not really a mother, but had great influence.

Another mother that I thought of is Mother of Pearl. Oddly, mother of pearl is not a mother, but does have great value. Mother of Pearl is a lustrous substance that forms the inner layer of the shell of certain mollusks, like oysters. It’s the material that gives the inside of the shell a beautiful, shiny finish, and it’s often used in jewelry, decorations, and various crafts. Believe it or not, mother of pearl is not the same as a pearl in jewelry or the Pearl from Hee Haw. Basically, mother of pearl forms when an irritant gets in the oyster. In various cultures around the world, mother of pearl is often associated with wealth, elegance, and purity. In some traditions, it is thought to possess protective and healing properties. That is a great mother who was not really a mother, but is very valuable.

The last famous mother that came to my mind is of course… Mother Bears. Again, oddly, the restaurant itself is not a mother, but does serve up comfort. Mother Bear's Pizza in Bloomington, Indiana, is a beloved and iconic spot that has been serving locals and visitors since 1973. Mother Bear’s Pizza opened in 1973 by two Indiana University students, Bob and Sue Lowe. It quickly gained a loyal following, especially among university students, and has since become one of Bloomington’s oldest and most popular pizza joints. The name "Mother Bear" is part of the charm and feels like a nod to comfort food and nurturing hospitality, evoking the warmth and care you’d expect from a "mother" serving up great food day in and day out from 11am to 9pm. This is another great mother who was not really a mother, but provides comfort.

Today is Mother’s Day! It is a day to honor those women in our lives who have made an eternal difference. Maybe it was the woman who gave birth to you, but it also may be an aunt, a sister, or another dear woman who has changed your life for the better. We are celebrating those women who have…

… great influence in our lives.

… have brought great value in our lives or are valuable to us.

… give comfort when we need it.

THE FIRST MOTHER AND OTHER MOTHERS IN THE BIBLE

In the Bible, the first mother’s name was Eve.

READ GENESIS 4:1-2a (ESV)

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel.

Eve was the mother of all living people who have been and who will be. Her name, “Eve,” means “living.” She was the first mother and the first woman to ever give birth to a child.

I wonder if she knew what to expect when it came time for Cain to be born?

I wonder if she was afraid of motherhood… no one had ever done it before?!

I wonder if she knew what an important and influential job being a mother is?