Lessons Of Motherhood

Lessons Of Motherhood

A Look At The Life Of Hannah

I Samuel 1:1-2:21

Introduction: Sign indicative of parenthood: "Get out of the way my kid’s got to Pee"

Overworked, over stretched, underslept parent who has been trained to squeeze every ounce out of every minute of every day.

Definitions:

Airplane: What mom impersonates to get a 1-year old to eat strained beets.

Alien: What mom would suspect had invaded her house if she spotted a child-sized creature cleaning up after itself.

Apple: Nutritious lunchtime dessert which children will trade for cupcakes.

Baby: 1. Dad, when he gets a cold. 2. Mom’s youngest child, even if he’s 42.

Because: Mom’s reason for having kids do things which cannot be explained logically.

Car Pool: Complicated system of transportation where mom always winds up going the furthest with the biggest bunch of kids who have had the most sugar.

China: Legendary nation reportedly populated by children who love leftover vegetables.

Cook: 1. Act of preparing food for consumption. 2. Mom’s other name.

I. Children Are A Gift From God

A. The Unpleasantness Of Mother’s Day

Children are the reason for Mother’s Day; but for some this is also the reason for their grief.

Mother’s of those murdered in school shootings.

Mother’s of the shooters.

Abortion

Stillborn, Miscarriage

Barren Women (counseling, fertilization clinics, adoption)

B. Hannah’s Pain (vss 3-8)

1. Lesser portion (not as important)

Importance of children

• heritage of legacy

• priority of boys

2. Provoked by rival

• doesn’t mention Peninnah by name, just rival

• provoked sorely to irritate

• year by year

3. Insincerity of husband

C. Hannah’s Prayer (vss 10-11)

II. God Hears Your Prayers And Knows Your Heart (vss 16-20)

A. Prayers To Have Kids

B. Care Prayers

1. Health

2. Safety

3. Maturity

4. Education

5. Ethics

C. "The Lord Remembers Her"

III. The Most Difficult Task Is Letting Go

vss 1:21-24, 27-28; 2:11 And the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and abide there for ever." Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her... and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." And they worshiped the LORD there. Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD, in the presence of Eli the priest. (RSV)

A. A Child So Dearly Wanted

B. Period Of Weaning

C. Difficult Times Of Letting Go

1. Weddings

2. College

3. Career Moves

IV. God Has A Plan For You And Your Family

A. Hannah

1. Not forgotten-given sons & daughters

(2:21) And the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. (1 Samuel 2:21 RSV)

2. Given place in the Bible

B. Samuel

1. Prophet of God

2. Last Judge

3. Anointed Kings Saul & David