Mothers are special people and they are one of God’s best gifts to us. Today we need to pause and thank God for our mother. She isn’t perfect but she always seems to know what we need and how to help us.
Abraham Lincoln said, All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. He also said, I regard no man as poor who has a godly mother. If you have a godly mother, you have a very special gift from God and I am thankful that I do.
In honor of our mothers, I want to share with you the answers that a second grade class gave when their teacher asked them about their mothers.
Why did God make mothers?
She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
Mostly to clean the house.
How did God make mothers?
God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He just used bigger
parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mums like me.
What kind of little girl was your mum?
I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty
bossy.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
His last name. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mum marry your dad?
My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
My grandma says that Mum didn't have her thinking cap on.
If you could change one thing about your mum, what would it be?
She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that. I'd make my mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
Today is a day for us to notice Mom and all the things she does for us. She is a special lady. All relationships from God are special but none are quite like Mom. I heard someone say that no matter how many children she has, mothers make all of them feel like she loves them the most. Sometimes we fail to notice all that mom does for us. In fact, in our passage for today, the mother can go unnoticed but she is very significant. So take notice of mom and all she does as we read our scripture for today.
Matthew 20: 20-21
Notice the role of a great mom.
My grandmother used to say that men make work from sun to sun but a woman’s work is never done. This is not always true, but what do we typically think is the role of a mother? The list is quite long.
One mother said her daily tasks included preparing and cleaning after meals, making beds, sweeping and moping, laundry, ironing, checking homework, wiping off bathrooms and kitchens, taking or picking up from school. She is also a nurse when her children get sick. She is a counselor when they get their feelings hurt. Not only is she a mother but she is a wife and often has another full time job. There is little time for herself or any of the things she likes to do. The list can go on and on. Moms have so many roles but I think one of their greatest roles is to spend time in prayer for her family. I know the day is hectic and you don’t have any extra time. But this is a role you cannot neglect.
Verse 21 says Mrs. Zebedee came to Jesus with her son, kneeling down, and asked Him something.
I know you do so many things for your children but do you pray for them? Do you go to the Lord daily and ask Him something for your children? Do you ask him to protect them as they go to school and face so many worldly influences? Do you pray for God to give them guidance so when they are confronted with peer pressure, that they will make the right choices.
Mrs. Zebedee took her sons to Jesus knelt down and talked to Him. Mothers are not the only ones who need to pray for their children but they will do the best job. They won’t mind getting on their knees and praying for specific needs or circumstances that you are going through.
My former pastor said on many occasions that since his mother died, his ministry was weaker because she wasn’t around to pray for him. I know that I would be much weaker also. I know that my mom prays for me everyday way before I get out of bed. It makes a difference. Take this role very seriously. And I know it will make a difference in your child’s life as well as in the family.
Notice the request of a great mom.
Verse 21 Mrs. Z asked Jesus, “grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.
Some might wonder why she would ask such a thing. We are told that the other ten disciples were greatly displeased with these two brothers. But mothers want the very best for their children.
She didn’t ask for them to be a part of his kingdom or even to have a high position. She requested the highest position. This is the ultimate position for anyone to have. She probably saw the other disciples there. She knew they were good men too but she said Jesus let my sons sit at your right and left. The person sitting on the right of the king is second in command while the person sitting on the king’s left is third in command. There wasn’t a higher position or a higher request.
That sounds like a mother’s request. Mom’s always want the best for their children. I can tell you that my mom would have said the same thing even if there were others around. In fact, I’ll bet she has prayed similar prayers quite often. Lord, would you give Keith your very best? She thinks that I could pastor the biggest church in the world. She doesn’t see all the imperfections or flaws that everyone else sees. Moms only see the best and want the best for their children. I am her little boy.
When I first moved away from home, I was 30 years old, but still her little boy. I wasn’t going to be close enough for check in on me every day. There was a man from the church who was helping me move in to my apartment. Mom gave him some special instructions. She asked him several times to look out for my little boy and to find him a wife. Moms know that they cannot always be around all the time. They depend on others but mostly they pray that God will give her children the best. Nothing less.
Notice the reward of a great mom.
Her reward is to see her family succeed, not herself. You can read this passage again but notice that Mrs. Z didn’t ask anything for herself only her family. She asked for her sons to have the greatest positions that anyone can have but nothing for herself. We all know that a great mom sacrifices for her family and never complains about it. She will go without before she will let her family have a need. Jesus didn’t agree to her request. He only said you don’t know what you are asking. Mom’s receive satisfaction and reward when their children excel. That is why she demands that you do your best. She wants you to have everything and so much more than she had. That is her reward.
A teacher asked a little boy this question. Suppose your mother baked a pie and there were seven of you-- your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get? A sixth, replied the boy. The teacher said you don’t know your fractions very well because there are seven of you. The little boy said to the teacher. You don’t know my mother very well. Mother would say she didn’t want any pie.
Moms always sacrifice for us and they call it their reward. But we know a better word for it is love.
Today is Mother’s Day. There are so many times that we fail to notice all the things our mothers do for us. But don’t let that happen today. Go out of you way to notice all that she does. Give her credit because she deserves it.
I heard about a teacher who brought a magnet to her class. She taught them a lesson and demonstrated an actual magnet. The next day she gave her students a pop test. One of the questions was: "My name has six letters, the first letter is M, and I pick up things. What am I?" Almost fifty percent of the class wrote, "Mother"
One of the greatest things that Mom picks up is her children. It is never noticed more than when she gets on her knees and talks about them to Jesus.
