1. Mother's Day! Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He established the day as a time for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” By then it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living, a custom that continues to this day.
2. “M-O-T-H-E-R” (Original 1915 lyrics to go along with Mothers Day?)
M Is for the Many things she gave me,
O Means only that she’s growing Old.
T Is for the Tears she shed to save me,
H Is for her Heart of purest gold.
E Is for her Eyes with love light shining,
R Means Right and Right she’ll always be.
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
This is a catchy song but we don’t have time for all 6 letters in Mother so we will cut it to M.O.M.
3. Proverbs 31:10-31
I. M – Making a Home for Her Family – Proverbs 31:11-12
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
A. House Vs. Home
1. Why did Mrs. Lot look back? Curiosity? Leaving Home Behind?
2. Hebrews in the wilderness looked back to Egypt at times
3. Jesus’ warning – Luke 9:62
B. Mom Sets the Pace in the Home
1. For joy in the home [“If Mama ain’t happy. . . “ – Proverbs 17:22
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
2. For giving in the home – self-sacrifice – Mark 9:35
3. In Nurture – 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (Nursing mother)
II. O – Overseeing the Tasks of Her Family
[Inside the Home vs. Outside the Home
A. Busy with Outside Tasks – Proverbs 31:13-16
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
B. Busy for Inside Good – Proverbs 31:27
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
“Man works from sun to sun; but woman’s work is never done.”
III. M – Marking the Way of God with Her Family – Proverbs 31:30-31
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
“First line of defense in the home”
A. Showing Acts of Kindness -- – Proverbs 31:20
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
B. Speaking Words of Wisdom – Proverbs 31:26
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Things Our Mothers Taught Us
- My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
- My mother taught me about RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
- My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
- My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Close your mouth and eat your supper."
- My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
- My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"
- My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"You just wait until we get home"
- My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up."
- My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you’ll understand."
- My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"
1. Mothers’ Impact on Family – Proverbs 31:28-29
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
2. W. Churchill
A London editor submitted to Winston Churchill for his approval a list of all those who had been Churchill’s teachers. Churchill returned the list with this comment: “You have omitted to mention the greatest of my teachers—my Mother.”
3. Pay attention
Proverbs 1:8-9, "Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."
