For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Acts 10: 44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5: 1-6 and John 15:9-17.
We have come together this morning for two primary reasons.
First and Foremost is to honor the Lord Jesus Christ ....with our worship.
The other, is to honor our mothers,...our grandmothers and the mothers of our children.
These are lifetime tasks, ..... neither of which can be confined to .... a one hour worship service.
Telephone companies tell us that Mothers Day is by far their busiest day of the year.
It is a day for greetings .... A day of expressions of love.
It is also a day for remembering.
I do not believe that anything has ever been said ..... or ever will be said .... that is eloquent enough, or expressive enough .... to articulate the true value of a mother...
One mother said, "The joy of motherhood ..... is what a woman experiences (Slow) when all the children are finally in bed.
A mother talking to an old college friend said, "Remember, before I was married ....... I had 3 theories about raising children?
Well, now I have 3 children ...... and no theories."
A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at once ....and she alone .....can somehow squeeze and enormous amount of living ..... into a 24 hour day. (Long Pause)
A man was walking along a California beach and stumbled across an old lamp.
He picked it up, ..... rubbed it - and out popped a genie. The genie said:
"Listen.... Four People have released me from the lamp this month ..... and I am getting a little sick of these wishes, so you can forget about three.
You only get one wish."
The man thought about it for a while and said, "I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I am afraid to fly .... and I get very sea sick.
Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over there to vacation?"
The genie laughed and said,....."That is impossible. Think of the logistics of that feat!
How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific ocean? You need to think of another wish."
The man thought about it and said, "I have been dating for years and the women I date always say that I don�t care and that I am insensitive.
So, I wish that I could fully understand women .. to know exactly how they feel and know exactly what they are thinking."
The genie paused then said, "You want that bridge with 2 lanes or 4 lanes?" (Long Pause)
A mother has the angelic voice of a member in the celestial choir as she sings the Brahm's lullaby to a babe .... held lovingly in her arms.
Yet this same voice can dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she calls the children in for supper, or cheers them on at a game. (Pause)
A Television show that I watched when I was a child called Captain Penny would always end the show with these words:
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool mom." (Pause)
And A mom can be tough ... tough as nails ... when she needs to be.
A drill sergeant was frustrated in his efforts to make a soldier out of a certain recruit.
The trainee lagged behind on marches.
He used any excuse to go on sick call,.... grumbled constantly about the food, ....and never made his bunk properly.
But one day, a noticeable change took place in the young mans attitude.
When asked to what he attributed the soldiers change in attitude, the drill sergeant explained,
"Threats and punishment did not work, ....so I had to resort to the ultimate weapon: I called his mother!" (Pause)
A mother is considered "old fashioned" to her teenager; just "Mom" to her third-grader; and simple "Mama" to the little two-year old.
But there is hardly a thrill in life that can compete with ....pointing to that wonderful woman ..... and be able to say ....to all the world, (Pause )
"That is my mother!... That is my mom!"
As all women know..... the quickest way for a mother to get the attention of her children is to attempt to ..... sit down and look comfortable. (Pause)
Dr. James Dobson shared a story about a time when he came home when his son, Ryan, was a small baby.
It had been a terrible day for his Shirley... his wife. Ryan had been sick and had cried all day long.
Once, as she was changing his diapers, .... the telephone rang and Shirley reached over to answer it before fastening up his diapers.
Just then Ryan had an attack of diarrhea.
She cleaned up that mess and put him in some clean.... sweet-smelling clothes.
Then she took him into the living room and fed him.
As she was burping him he threw up all over himself, and her, and the couch, too.
Dobson writes, "When I came home I could smell the aroma of motherhood everywhere."
Shirley cried out to him, "Was all of this in my contract?" (Pause)
It is hard to find free time as a mom.
There was a Cartoon. . .that portrayed a three-year-old, freckle-faced boy standing in the hallway.
His pajamas are unsnapped, his diapers bagging, and he has a little teddy bear dangling in his hand.
He is standing in front of his mother and fathers bedroom door, which is shut.
On the door is a little sign written by a weary mother: "Closed for Business. ...... Motherhood Temporarily Out of Order." (Pause)
One day, a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink.
She suddenly notices that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast ..... on her brunette head of hair.
"Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" she asks.
Her mother replied, "Well, every time you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl pondered about that for awhile, ....then asked, .... "So how come ALL of Grandmas hairs are white?" (Pause)
Grandmothers are extra special.
What is a Grandmother? (Written by some third graders)
A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own. She likes other peoples little girls and boys.
A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with boys, and they talk about fishing and stuff like that.
Grandmothers don't have to do anything except be there.
They're old .........so they shouldn't play to hard ..... and they should never run.
It is enough if they drive us to the market where the pretend horse is, and have a lot of quarters ready.
If they take us for walk, they should slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.
They should never say, "Hurry up!"
Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes.
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums out.
Grandmothers don't talk baby talk like other visitors do, because it is hard to understand.
When they read to us they don't skip parts of the story or mind if it is the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television, because they are the only grown-ups who have time.
Almost all of us have fond memories of our families of our mothers, grandmothers and of home.
And though my mother has been gone now for 11 years now, I have so many precious memories of her.
Mother & home... when you mention one you just automatically think .... of the other.
And when most of us think of home we forget the troubles that may surround us at the moment .... and remember the sounds .....and sights ..... and smells of home.
Of screen doors banging in the summer time, the aroma of cookies just out of the oven, or the smell of our favorite meal.
Home ..... we enjoy a sense of acceptance there, ..... of being loved.
And we knew ....that mom loved us. We were certain .... of that. (Pause)
Beloved .... This is also true with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us so very much.
He loved us enough to die for us at the cross.
He loves you and me this much (Spread arms).
He cares for you and me this much (Spread arms).
We need to allow him to be not only our Savior but our Lord.
And when we do he will wipe every tear from our eyes.
Mother’s have tears... Tears for their Children
Few things are more powerful than the tears and prayers of a mother.
Few things are more tender than a mother’s hug or compassionate touch.
It just may be true - what Napoleon said, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."
The writer of Hebrews reminds us to , "...encourage one another daily...." (Hebrews 3:13)
And again, the Scriptures in 1st Thessalonians commands us: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up....." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Mothers understand this and are often the voice that lifts us up.... The voice of encouragement.
I called my mother regularly after she was diagnosed with Leukemia.
During a call shortly before her death she said "Jeff, you seem like something is troubling you."
I shared with her that work was a little stressful but it was nothing to worry about.
She began to pray for me and continued for 10 or 15 minutes.
Mother’s who have a relationship with Jesus have a godly ability to love even in the midst of their own pain and suffering.
Mother’s are truly a gift from God. (Pause)
I would like to close with this reading .... a poem entitled, "My Mother."
Your love, I know--I’ve seen your tears;
You’ve given to me my life.
You’ve walked through hours and days and years
Of heartache, toil and strife.
To see that I could have the best
That you could give to me,
You gave up needs and often rest--
You viewed eternity.
To do His will my highest call
And by your special care
I stood and walked and did not fall,
You held me up in prayer.
Though strands of gray may brush your hair,
And miles divide our way,
I know that by your quiet prayer
You’ve helped me day by day.
You’ve shown me how to give, to share
To put my own needs last.
You’ve helped me see and be aware
That life ...is so soon past.
To spite your love I would not dare,
For there is not another
Who spreads her gentle love and care
Like you--My Loving Mother.
O’ Beloved .....Uplift one another ..... Encourage one another.
Move forward in the Faith and let the Holy Spirit transform you .... Let the Holy Spirit conform you to the image of Christ.
And May the Lord Bless you and may the Lord lift his continence upon you and give you peace.
Amen & Amen!
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal gift: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Homily was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings.
