6 May 2007
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, California
BIG IDEA: Seeing their baby and experiencing the joy of being a mother causes many mothers to forget the anguish of birth.
References: John 16:16-22 (RSV); Psalm 30:5 (KJV) For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; Isaiah 55:8 (KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD; Genesis 35:16-19 (KJV) And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 16:16-21 (RSV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 16:16-21 (RSV)
III. READ THE TEXT: John 16:21 (RSV) When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remember the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
IV. PURPOSE: Motivate the hearers to affirm to others, in wake of Mother’s Day, many mothers forget the anguish of child birth.
V. INTRODUCTION: Mothers are very special to all of us. We can never do enough to show these very special women how much we love, honor, and respect them for all they do daily.
This morning many of you came out to show honor to mothers and to celebrate what has become somewhat of an annual event, here at Ord Military Chapel, a Pre-Mothers’ Day Breakfast. Please join me in giving a thunderous round of applauds to all of the mothers in our sanctuary today.
Many thanks goes to Mr. Leon Horne whose thoughtfulness stirred-up the pot of commemorations; thanks and appreciation also goes to SGT Amber Oberg, a mother of two young children, who envisioned such an event occurring on the Sunday prior to Mothers’ Day.
Recently, in my reading and webpage surfing, I came across a website which had some rather memorable Mothers Day Humor of which I would like to share with you. For instance, John Fiebig wrote:
“The hand that rocks the cradle usually is attached to someone who isn’t getting enough sleep.”
Someone else wrote: “I’d like to be the ideal mother, but I’m too busy raising my kids. ”
David Finkelstein wrote: The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she’d have children if she had it to do over again. "Yes," she replied. "But not the same ones."
Finally Bits and Pieces in 1989 wrote:
A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."
******************Take 5 Beats*****************
MOVE 1: Mothers are the light by which many are led to see clearer. Happy early Mothers Day to all of our mothers.
a. It’s my prayer that you are able, today, to commemorate the happier moments of being a mother.
b. As a father of three sons and a husband of one wife, I’m fully aware that all of your days as mothers aren’t exactly happy ones!!
c. In fact, many of your days, early on, are full of anguish and sorrow. And it all started the moment your child was conceived.
d. Since becoming a mother, your life (as you once knew it) has never been the same.
*****************Take 5 Beats******************
MOVE 2: You have had anguish, sorrow, and joy similar to that of Rachel in our Old Testament.
a. For who can ever forget the story of Rachel, mother of Joseph, and Benjamin.
b. For don’t you remember, Rachel was the first woman on record to lose her life in childbirth?
c. But all mothers can attest to the sacrifices they have made on behalf of their children.
d. And in the process of sacrificing for their children, they have loss life as they knew life before their children came along.
e. It’s inevitable! It’s impossible to be a mother and continue to enjoy life as one did prior to motherhood.
f. I can personally attest to the fact that my Mother freely sacrificed and gave-up a lot for me.
g. Hopefully, I gave her more joy while she lived than pain.
h. As Toni Burke indicated in his song – I too remember Momma in a happy way! I am not saying that all of my memories were fun memories. Because there were some memories that I would like to forget, especially those that caused my mother to make me pick-out a switch. (Give details).
****************Take 5 Beats****************
Move 3: In pre-marital counseling, I have often said (to my counselees) that out of the same heart that renders love and compassion also comes anger and pain.
a. Likewise, the very thing in Christendom which causes us headaches, sorrow, and pain in this life; God uses to also bring us Joy.
b. The Psalmist says it best in Psalm 30:5b when he says: …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning;
c. The trouble and anguish that I feel right now will not last always! Somehow the Lord will turn things around.
d. And my sorrow will turn to Joy.
***************Take 5 Beats **********************
Move 4: Today, we are going to collectively participate in communion, as we commemorate our Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. Likewise, in our text today, Jesus’ discourse at the last supper, with his disciples addressed the idea of how long we must go through our various trials and tribulations.
a. The bottom line up front in Jesus’ response is that the HOW LONG a trial last is to last …. Is not the most significant THING TO KNOW in our lives as Christians …
b. The How Long sorrow occurs in our life as Christians is not the most significant thing TO LEARN … as a Christian …
c. Why this particular type of anguish as occurred is NOT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT thing to know as a Christian …
c. BUT THE SIGNIFICANT THING TO KNOW, AND BE AWARE OF (AS A CHRISTIAN) is that
d. … in spite of what I going through … I’m going through …
e. And JOY, though it may not come when I want it to come, It’s coming …JOY COMETH …
f. For don’t you remember Jesus used the analogy of Childbirth to COMFORT THE SORRORFUL HEARTS OF HIS DISCIPLES - who because their pain and the grief of losing our Saviour could not even fathom the thought of Him (Jesus) going away … not even for a little while ….?
g. I have said it before and I will say again – if mothers truly remembered the sorrow and difficulties of giving birth, they would never become pregnant again. But, the fact of the matter is , mothers don’t remember the pain because of the joy.
h. Many of our mothers in attendance today can attest to the idea of not recalling the anguish of birth after seeing the joy that their sorrow brought forth.
i. Seeing their baby and experiencing the joy of being a mother causes many mothers to forget the anguish of birth
*************Take 5 Beats *******************
CELEBRTION: So, in spite of the birthing pains of sorrow, and anguish that you’re experiencing right now, … hang in there … and don’t give up … BECAUSE JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!
That trial that you’re going through hasn’t come to BREAK YOU … BUT TO MAKE YOU. BECAUSE YOUR HOUR HAS COME …
FOR THE BIBLE SAYS … (in Psalms 30:5b) his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning;
