A Mother’s Day Card from God
[2] Today is the day when Moms get the special treatment, right? You know, breakfast in bed; homemade Mother’s Day cards from the kids; flowers from your husband; lunch at your favorite restaurant; and absolutely no house cleaning! (How come I’m seeing some of you ladies give your husbands ‘the elbow’?)
Today is your day and you deserve it. I mean, being a Mother is one of the most important, most influential, most difficult and yet is sometimes the most thankless role a person can ever have. So today we say “Thanks you Moms” for all you do.
Listen to how God describes what a virtuous woman is like; what a great Mom is like. [3]
[Read Proverbs 31:10-31.]
Now that’s a goof woman. Now that’s a good Mom. But even though we can see what it means to be a good Mother, it’s still a challenge. Being a good Mom is hard!
You’ve got to be a housekeeper, a taxi driver, a cook, an appointment manager, a nurse, a judge, a referee, a teacher, a counselor, a beautician, a friend, a disciplinarian, and a loving ear when you kids need to be heard.
Being a Mom is tough. Even though being a Mom can be the greatest and most rewarding privilege there is, it’s still tough. So this morning God wants to give you some encouragement. This morning, God wants to give you a Mother’s Day card just from Him.
In your bulleting is an insert that Moms can use to write down God’s message of encouragement. And even if you aren’t a Mother, maybe you know of someone who could use these words, so take notes. Then you’ll be able to turn to these Mother’s Day cards from God when you need some encouragement. Especially: [4]
When you feel discouraged
Discouragement can come to a Mother at any given time.
- When your kids act up and do the same stupid things you’ve told them over and over not to do.
- When you can’t get a break from the kid’s sicknesses or accidents or both.
- When you feel an emotional distance between you and your kids.
- When you feel like your husband isn’t helping you with parenting as much as he should be.
- When others look down on you because of the way you choose to parent.
Discouragement can be a very real force in a Mother’s life. But when that discouragement comes and tries to steal your joy, remember that God is with you and will help you with what He’s called you to do.
Listen to what it says in Isaiah 41:10.
“So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God is here and will help you to be the Mother He’s called you to be. Turn to this card when discouragement comes and read God’s Message to you. You can also turn to these cards: [5]
When you feel angry
Now you’ve never gotten angry with your kids have you? Why, our kids are so precious and perfect that there’s never a need for anger in our household. “Okay!”
Kids can make us angry!
“You used my eyeliner to draw a picture!”
“You did what to the cat?”
“Why did you try and cut your own hair?”
“Son, you know you can’t wear the same underwear three days in a row!”
Now, anger is a normal emotion that can be used for good – that’s as long as we
don’t let our anger control us to the point that we cause harm to others. Anger out of control only causes more problems. So when you feel angry, open up this card and read God’s Message to you from Ephesians 4:26-27.
"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Anger out of control can give satan an opportunity to drive a wedge in your family’s relationships. Out of control anger can create emotional scars that take a lot to heal. Mom’s, anger is normal and even expected under certain circumstances. But let God help you control it instead of it controlling you. Look at this card when you feel angry. Also, look at this card: [6]
When you need wisdom
Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do as a Mom. So many decisions that need to be made. Important, life-changing and life-altering decisions. Questions about our kid’s education, our kid’s moral issues, health concerns, paying for college, when they should start dating, (never), and all other kinds of things. Things as simple as, “How can I get my kids to go through one day without fighting?” Or things as crucial as, “How can I help my kids understand that God loves them even when life is hard.”
[Visiting with a Mother of cancer patient in hospital story.]
But Moms always remember, God will give you the wisdom you need to be the best Mom you can be. Look at what is says in James 1:5.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Now this doesn’t mean you’ll always have just the right answer for the questions of life. But it does mean that the Lord will help you know how to handle the situations that He allows to come into your life. When you need wisdom remember these words.
Along with needing wisdom, a Mother also might need some encouragement: [7]
When you feel alone
Now that might not seem like a legitimate need to some people. I mean, you’ve got your kids with you all day. You aren’t alone, you’ve always got someone to talk to. But even though a Mom You can have her kids around her all day long, there are times when she can still feel alone. A Mom can feel alone when:
- Her husband works so much that he’s either mentally gone even physically gone most of the time.
- Her kids are too young to have an adult conversation with them.
- Her kids are the only ones throwing a temper-tantrum in a crowded restaurant.
These are just a few of the things that can cause a Mother to feel alone. So
when those times come remember that you aren’t alone.
- In John 14:18 Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.”
- God tells us in Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.”
- When Jesus left this earth to return to His Heavenly Father, He left this promise for you in Matthew 28:20, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
You are not alone! Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life you will never, ever, ever be alone. In those times we must remember that Truth. God is with us and within us in such a way that we are never alone.
[God’s presence when learning of Grandfather’s death story.]
Call out to Him in those times and ask Him for reassurance; Ask Him for comfort; Ask to sense His presence. He is with you and always will be.
Isn’t that great? I’m so glad that I don’t have to walk through life alone. God is with us. So remember that when you feel lonely. This card can also be referenced: [8]
When you feel tired
Now men let me ask you a question. Have you ever said to your wife something like, “Just why are you so tired?” “I worked all day. What did you do?”
You know what happened right? You found yourself on the losing end of an hour long argument of comparing your job with her life and just who should be tired around here. Who should be tired? Probably both parents! Work is tiring. Mothering is tiring. Just because a woman isn’t punching a clock in the factory doesn’t mean she shouldn’t get tired.
You see, not only is a Mother doing lots of manual labor called housework, she’s also dealing with emotions and decisions and relationships that all take energy.
So Moms, instead of brewing another pot of coffee or gulping an energy drink, go to the Lord when you need some strength. Isaiah 40:29-31 reads:
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Our God wants to give you the strength to do all that you need to do. So when your strength is failing, and there’s nobody around to give you a break, rely on our all-powerful God who will give you the strength to carry on.
And finally, something that most Mothers can relate to, you can go to this card for some encouragement: [9]
When you’re worried
I think Mothers tend to worry because they care so much about their kids. They laugh when their kids laugh. They cry when their kids cry. They hurt when their kids fail. They rejoice when their kids triumph. Moms want their kids to have the best and be the best.
But sometimes Moms worry when things don’t go as planned. Sometimes Moms worry when they see problems and pain coming for their children. Worry comes when things seem like they’re out of our control and going badly.
But ladies, you don’t have to be the perfect Mom for your kids to turn out okay. You can and will make mistakes. Trying to be the perfect Mom isn’t a realistic goal. But what you can be is the Mom that God’s enabled you to be. Stop comparing yourself with your neighbor, with someone you saw on tv, or someone you read about in a book. Be the Mom God’s created you to be, do your best, and leave the results up to Him. And when worry comes, remember Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
[Waiting while Elysse was in surgery story.]
When you’re worried, go to God who will calm your heart and give you peace.
[10] Isn’t God good? I mean, we can go to Him when we feel discouraged, when we feel angry, when we need wisdom, when we feel alone, when we feel tired and when we feel worried. Keep these Mother’s day cards handy and refer to them often. Mom’s, being a Mother is a high calling, and God wants to and will help you as you seek to love your children into adulthood. God is here for you! [11]
[Sandy putting arm around me at funeral story.]
God is with us and will help us with life if we’ll simply have faith.
[Prayer.]
