Discover The Meaning Of Motherhood: It's Not Just A Job. It's An Adventur

(adapted from a message by Dave Stone)

SPECIAL DAY: MOTHERS’ DAY

TEXT; PROVERBS 31:10-31

TITLE: “DISCOVER THE MEANING OF MOTHERHOOD: It’s Not Just a Job. It’s an Adventure!”

OPEN: A. There was an AP news story written by Joy Zeman this past Friday, May 9. It was about a

woman in Tontitown, Arkansas who is pregnant with her 18th child. Michelle Duggar, 41, is due on

New Year’s Day 2009, and the latest addition will join seven sisters and 10 brothers. There are two

sets of twins. Duggar has been pregnant for more than 11 years of her life.

Mom said while laughing, “We’ve had three in January, three in December. Those two months

are a busy time for us.” The Duggars’ oldest child, Josh, is 20, and the youngest, Jennifer, is nine

months old. The family lives in their northwest Arkansas town in a 7,000 –square-foot-home. All

the children — whose names start with the letter J — are home-schooled.

My wife and daughter watched a series on the Discovery Health Channel about this family and

how they built that huge house. The article mentions that Discovery Health filming another series

about this family

Dad Jim Bob Duggar said, “The success in a family is first off, a love for God, and secondly,

treating each other like you want to be treated. Our goal is for each one of our children to be best

friends, and everybody working together to serve each other makes that happen.”

The other Duggar children, in between Joshua and Jennifer, are Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill,

16; Jessa, 15; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 7;

James, 6; Justin, 5; Jackson, 3; and Johannah, 2.

B. Today we pay honor to all those ladies who know that being a mom is an adventure

1. God has blessed them with children

2. What an awesome responsibility!

C. Prov. 31:10-31 – “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her

husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all

the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the

merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for

her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings

she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She

sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the

distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her

hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed

in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is

respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen

garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and

dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on

her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do

noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman

who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring

her praise at the city gate.”

1. Peggy Wehmyer, Religion Correspondent for ABC said, “A positive mom is the most powerful

weapon against the culture of despair and cynicism that assaults our children.”

2. Solomon’s description here in Proverbs 31 is all-encompassing.

--It’s a tall order and a daunting task

a. In Marsha Drake’s book, The Proverbs 32 Lady and other Impossible Dreams, she gives a

spiritual journal, a record of her efforts to become the virtuous woman, and how she failed

miserably until she let God take control.

b. She writes in the Preface: “Proverbs 31 has been both a marvelous model for the Christian

wife and the cause of more guilt for her than anything else. When those verses become the

pattern for a do-it yourself project, frustration, guilt, and disillusionment can only result.

When seen as what the power of the Holy Spirit can accomplish, those same verses are

winsome and hope-filled.”

D. For some of us, this is a difficult day

1. You’ve prayed for a child but God’s answer has seemed to be “No.”