INTRODUCTION:
Someone has written a poem titled:
A. THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
They say that man is mighty
He governs land and sea;
He wields a mighty scepter
On lower powers than he.
But mightier power and stronger
Man from his throne has hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is that hand that rules the world.
B. MOTHER POWER
1. Julia Ward Howe, at age ninety-one, said: "We talk of forty horse-power, but if we had forty
mother-power it would be the most wonderful force in the world."
2. Mother's Day is when everybody waits on mother and she pretends she doesn't mind the
extra work.
3. A Normal Day in the Life of a Mother
She cooked the breakfast first of all,
Washed the cups and plates,
Dressed the children and made sure
socks s all were mates.
Combed their heads and made their beds,
Sent them out to play.
Gathered up their toys,
Put some books away.
Dusted chairs and mopped the stairs,
Ironed an hour or two,
Baked a jar of cookies and a pie,
Then made a stew.
The telephone rang constantly,
The doorbell did the same,
A youngster fell and stubbed his toe,
And then the laundry came.
She picked up blocks and mended socks,
And then she blackened up the stove.
And when her husband came at six
He said: "I admire you!
It is a blessing to come home and see all that you do.
Thanks.
C. PAUL’S ADVICE FOR OLDER MOTHERS
1. An honored position was given to the older mothers of the church.
2. Because they were so honored, Paul gives them some guidelines in Titus 2.
3. They were to have GOOD BEHAVIOR, GOOD WORDS, GOOD HABITS, and GOOD
INFLUENCE. This would result in GOOD FAMILIES.
I. GOOD BEHAVIOR
A. BEHAVE AS BECOMETH HOLINESS
1. Their behavior should fit those who are engaged in sacred things.
2. Literally, this passage states that an older woman should:
BEHAVE AS A PRIESTESS IN A HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD.
3. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
4. Paul was referring to the reverence and respect which is due to older women.
5. The advice which Paul gives to the older women is advice which they should then give to us all.
B. GRANDMOTHERS and spiritual Moms NEEDED
1. E. F. Brown, was a missionary to India in the old days
2. He noted something concerning the Anglo-Indian society of those days
3. A friend of his was asked: "What is it you most want in India'?."
4. His answer was: "Grandmothers."
5. In the old days there were few older women in Anglo-Indian society.
6. Most of the Anglo women returned to Britain while still fairly young.
7. The scarcity of older women was a serious lack in their society.
8. Mr. Brown also said: "Older women play a very important part in society!"
9. We don’t realize how large a part they play until we witnesses a social life
where they are absent.
10. Brown said, "Kindly grandmothers are the natural advisers of the young of both sexes."
11. The older women with their serenity, sympathy, and understanding have a major part
to play in the life of the Church.
II. GOOD WORDS
A. YOUR WORDS HAVE GREAT POWER
1. A grandmother can have vast influence over her family.
2. When she slanders or criticizes someone, it effects several generations.
3. It works exponentially.
4. A grandmother’s words are multiplied by at least two for every generation.
B. YOU HAVE A SACRED TRUST
1. You need to remember that you have children and grandchildren who hold you as sacred.
2. Much of the bitterness and the touchiness in church activities would vanish if we would all
learn to keep a tight reign on our lips.
3. The fact is, most people would rather repeat a malicious story than one to someone's credit.
4. Will Rogers once said, "The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
5. If you tell it, it will likely be repeated many times before the day is over.
C. MOVING DIRT
1. A MODEL "G" EARTH MOVER
R. G. LeTourneau was for many years an outstanding Christian businessman—heading a
company which manufactured large earth moving equipment. He once remarked, "We
used to make a scraper known as "Model G." One day somebody asked our salesman
what the "G" stood for. The man, who was pretty quick on the trigger, immediately replied,
"I’ll tell you. The "G" stands for gossip because like a talebearer this machine moves a lot
of dirt and moves it fast!""
2. Not only will it be repeated, it will be embellished.
3. A gossip makes a mountain out of a molehill. Do you know how they do that?
They add more dirt!
4. My dad always told me, "If you can’t find something good to say about somebody, then
you shouldn’t say anything at all."
D. BE A HOLY MEDDLER
Smith and Jones were "on the outs" over a very trivial matter. This deeply concerned Deacon
Brown, so he prayed that he might be a peacemaker. He called on Smith and asked, "What
do you think of Jones?" "He's the meanest crank in the neighborhood!" "But," said Brown,
"you have to admit that he's very kind to his family." "Oh, sure, he's kind to his family all right;
no one can deny that." The next day Brown went to Jones and inquired, "Do you know what
Smith said about you?" "No, but I can imagine how that scamp would lie about me!" "This
may surprise you, but he said you're very kind to your family." "What! Did Smith say that?"
"Yes, he did." "Well, if you hadn't told me, I wouldn't believe it." "What do you think of
Smith?" asked Deacon Brown. "Truthfully, I believe he's a lowdown scalawag." "But you
have to admit that he's very honest in business." "Yes, there's no getting around that; in
business he's a man you can trust." The next day Brother Brown called on Smith again.
"You know what Jones said about you? He claims you're a fellow that really can be trusted
in business, and that you're scrupulously honest." "You mean it?" "Yes, I do," said Brown.
"Well of all things," replied Smith with a happy smile. The next Sunday the former "enemies"
nodded to each other. Brown continued his "meddling" until the next annual business meeting
of the church when Smith and Jones shook hands and finally voted on the same side! Take a
diplomatic page from the peacemaking notebook of this consecrated deacon and begin to
practice his helpful methods, for God loves "a holy meddler!"
III. GOOD HABITS
"…not given to much wine…"
A. WHAT KIND OF HABITS DO YOU HAVE?
1. We’ve all got habits.
2. Some good and some bad.
3. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day!
4. Some tend to get a whole lot done in that time, and others don’t.
5. We need to have habits that are productive.
B. GOOD HABITS BRING GOOD SUCCESS
1. We need to be wise stewards of our time and energy.
2. The older we get, it seems the less we have of time and energy.
3. We have only one lifetime to live.
4. We can use it to its fullest, or we can squander it.
5. We pay our dues in hard work for almost everything we get.
6. If you spend your time talking with and helping friends, at least you gain some friends.
7. If you spend your time working on the garden, you usually get a crop.
8. Bible Quizzers don’t quote whole books of the Bible without good habits.
9. Skilled builders don’t get that way from setting on the couch.
10. A concert pianist didn’t get that way from going to bed early and getting up late.
11. Success is not a magical formula.
12. Success comes from good work habits.
C. GOOD FAMILIES ARE LIKE GOOD GRADES
1. I asked the young people how many could make straight A’s if they knew they were going
to get $1,000 for every A.
2. Most of them said they could do it.
3. Eventually, they all agreed that they could get straight A’s if they got enough money for it.
4. The trick seems to be motivation.
5. Now, it's the parents' turn to sit on the hot seat. How many of you would spend more time
with your family if you got paid for it?
6. How many could turn the TV off and play a game with your kids if you were paid
$100 a game?
7. How many of you could read a bedtime story from the Bible to your child every night if
you got paid $1000 per night to do it? (Kyle’s book of Rhymes)
8. Let me tell you, you will get much more back in love and good will from your child if you
will do these things.
9. A good family takes a lot of work and effort.
10. There is no magic pill to take in order to have a good family.
11. It doesn’t just happen!
12. It doesn’t come from luck!
13. It comes from working at it.
IV. GOOD INFLUENCE
"…teachers of good things…"
A. THE OLDER TRAIN THE YOUNGER
1. The older women must teach and train the younger.
2. Sometimes it seems that the only some wish to do with their experience is to pour cold
water on the plans and dreams of others.
3. They say such things as, "Oh, that won't work... I tried that when I was your age."
4. They say, "You're just like your dad. You'll never amount to anything..."
5. We need to use our influence for good... to edify, build up, and encourage our children.
6. They hear enough discouragement from the world.
7. They don't need it home too.
B. A LIST OF SUCCESSFUL MOTHERS
1. Some of the most famous people in the world have ascribed their success to a good mother.
2. John Quincy Adams said: "All that I am my mother made me."
3. Abraham Lincoln said: "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
4. Dwight L. Moody declared: "All that I have ever accomplished in life, I owe to my mother."
5. Napoleon was a sage when he said: "Let France have good mothers, and she will have
good sons."
6. Andrew Carnegie frequently acknowledged the tender interest and influence of his mother.
7. Benjamin West declared: "A kiss from my mother made me a painter."
8. President McKinley provided in his will that, first of all, his mother should be made
comfortable for life.
9. Garfield's first act, after being inaugurated President of the United States, was to stoop
down and kiss his elderly mother sitting near him.
C. THE LIGHT OF A CHILD’S WORLD
It was a Rally Day program at the church and a little girl was to recite the Scripture she had
memorized for the occasion. When she got in front of the crowd, the sight of hundreds of
eyes peering at her caused her to forget her memory work.
Every line that she had so carefully rehearsed faded from her mind and she stood there unable
to utter a single word. In the front row, her mother was almost as frantic as the little girl. The
mother gestured, moved her lips, trying to form the words for the girl, but it did no good.
Finally, the mother, in desperation, whispered the opening phrase of the memorized Scripture:
"I am the light of the world." Immediately the child's face lit up and a smile appeared on it as
she said with supreme confidence: "My mother is the light of the world!"
Of course, everybody smiled and some laughed out loud. Then they soberly reflected that the
girl, in some ways, was not far from wrong. For the mother is the light of the child's world.
CONCLUSION:
Ladies , you may be the only reflection of Jesus Christ that your child or other kids ever sees. Let your light so shine before children that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. However, you can’t let your light shine if you don’t have the light. Jesus is that light. Do you know him as your personal Lord and Savior?
