Mothers Day 2009
Luke 1:41-52
When my daughter was a little girl she used to want me to read to her at every opportunity. One of her favorite little books was called - Are you My Mother?
It was written by P.D. Eastman and published in 1960 by Random House. Some of you may own a copy of this charming little book.
Summary of Plot from Wikipedia:
It is the story about a mother bird who knows her egg will be in her nest where she left it, so she leaves him alone to go and get something for him to eat. The baby bird hatches. He does not understand where his mother is so he goes to look for her. In his search, he asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow if they are his mother. They each say, No.
Then he sees an old car, which ca not be his mother for sure. In desperation, the hatch-ling calls out to a boat and a plane, and at last, convinced he has found his mother, he climbs onto the teeth of an enormous power shovel. But he is betrayed by the behemoth (snort), as it shudders and grinds into motion. He can’t escape. I want my mother! he shouts.
But at this climactic moment, his fate is suddenly reversed. The shovel drops him back in his nest, just as his mother is returning home, and the two are reunited, much to their delight. He then tells her about the adventure he had looking for her.
Phillip Dey Eastman is probably more famous for his little childrens books than for his other contributions.
From 1936 to 1941, Eastman worked at the story department of Walt Disney Productions. From 1941 to 1943 he worked at the story department of Warner Bros. Cartoons. From 1945 to 1952 he worked in the story department of United Productions of America. He contributed to the Private Snafu World War II training films and gave us the animation we know as Mr. Magoo.
Philip Dey Eastman (USA, 1909-1986) author, illustrator, and filmmaker, worked so closely with Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) that he is sometimes mistaken for him.
In Mr. Eastmans book we have a mother bird that is unaware that her baby has left the nest because she is busy doing motherly things. The baby bird goes off to have one adventure after the other and some seem dangerous but the baby bird is oblivious to the dangers of the world around him.
This little story put Mothers Day into perspective for me as I related it to the scripture where Jesus is left behind when the family had visited Jerusalem. Both Joseph and Mary thought Jesus was with the company of family members but not so.
Mothers carry a special burden for their children. We call it a maternal instinct as a child I called it a sixth sense. Mothers seem to know intuitively when their children are in trouble or dealing with a trial be it emotional, academic, or spiritual. Moms just seem to know what we are thinking.
But in the scripture passage today we find that Mary is astonished at what she finds Jesus doing. I also find it interesting to see that it is Mary and not Joseph who is admonishing Jesus for wondering off. Moms have a way of disciplining in love that really gets to our hearts.
It is Jesus answer to Marys questions that causes Mary to realize her little boy is indeed the special little boy that God promised he would be. She explains how anxious they all were as they looked for the missing Jesus. Jesus in reply told her plainly 49 Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?
Just like P.D. Eastmans story of the little bird that wondered off Jesus wondered off but for a very different reason. Jesus had come to realize who he was and where he needed to be. Mary treasured this in her heart as she realized that Jesus had reached an age when he no longer relied on his earthly parents but would follow the path his Heavenly Father had laid out for him.
How many mothers here are like Mary? How many mothers here would gladly trade their concern for a child that they think is lost for an acknowledgment from that child that they have found God in their lives?
Is this not one of the greatest accomplishments of a mother to lovingly care and raise their child to know the Lord?
That is better than any lead role in an elementary school play or sports trophy they could win. That is better than any academic achievement or scholarship that they could earn. It is even better than seeing your child marry that special someone in their lives.
For a mother to see her child come to the saving knowledge of the Lord has to be a special treasure just as Mary treasured the truth of who Jesus was. I realize it is not easy to dress a three year old boy or girl and to brush their hair and keep them clean until they make it into the church door.
I realize that you mothers do much, pretty much all of these unseen tasks as you ready your children and family for church and other special moments of celebration. You want to display your children and family in the best possible light because you love them and want others to see why that is so.
Despite your great love and example to your children they do not always follow you. There are times when children will wonder off into the world around them and seem to get lost in it.
How it must break a mothers heart to see that precious child wonder so far from what their mother had hoped they would be. The weight of the burden of prayer placed on a mothers heart is so great that at times it must seem as if it can never be lifted. A child that is lost is never out of a mothers reach when she prays.
I was lost as a small child in grade one at 6 years of age I wondered off to follow a friend home. We crossed a bridge and railroad tracks and ended up near a flour mill. The police finally located me at 7p.m. later that evening and my mothers prayers were answered. If only I had looked up I could have seen the cross that sat upon the steeple of the church and found my way home. Thankfully, God is there when a mother can not be.
It was an angel that came to Mary to announce her special role as the mother of Jesus. Our bible tells us that God provides guardian angels for our little ones and that every child is precious. In fact God loves children so much that he promises to severely punish anyone who would harm them. God and mothers share a special love for children and share the same goals for them.
This Mothers Day let us remember all the nurturing, nursing, mending of our clothes and hearts that mothers undertake. Let us remember the ministry that motherhood is and truly show our appreciation for their role in our lives and the lives of our children.
Mothers know that God loves all you do for your children and every child you care for. Our Heavenly Father has uniquely equipped your heart for the role of Mother. You may not receive the thanks or praise that is due you here on earth for all you sacrifice and for all you give in order to be a mother but one day you will celebrate Mothers Day in heaven and you will know that it has all been worth it.
Until that day arrives continue to be a living example of Jesus Christ to your children and your family. Radiate the love of God from your heart and your lips. Be like the mothers of the bible who trusted God with the lives of their children while continuing to pray for them. Never believe that your child is lost to you as long as you are given to prayer for that child.
Our God reaches from heaven to earth in order to give you children. Touch the children with your gentle love and care until God calls them back to himself. Mothers, treasure in your heart the million special moments that being a mother is all about.
