Mother’s Day is marked on the second Sunday in May. It’s a day to celebrate Mothers, Mothers- to- be and any woman who has had a significant influence in our lives. Every human being is born of a woman. That makes a woman so unique and incredibly special. Also, most mothers combine motherhood with their careers and other responsibilities. Indeed, the saying that “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” is so true!
According to salary.com 2019 estimate, a Stay-at-home mom would earn $178,201 for the services that she provides. These include cost of being a Private Chef, House cleaner, Childcare, Driver, Laundry service etc. So, love, appreciate, cherish and celebrate your mother. One day is too short to celebrate her. Remember to celebrate her as often as you can.
The Bible is full of several examples of outstanding women that are excellent examples of motherhood. We have women like Eve, our first mother, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel.Some women were also great leaders and administrators. Deborah was a judge and Jael had the singular honor of positively influencing the outcome of a battle ( see Judges)
The Bible is also full of examples of terrible women who are examples of what a good woman ought not to be. Queen Jezebel, Queen Athaliah and Delilah are some of them. Some women, like Esther, started out as a slave girl and rose to become the Queen of an empire. Some, like Ruth, came from an abominable root. She was a Moabitess, from a nation despised by Israel because they came from the incestous affair by the 2 daughters of Lot. Yet, God favored Ruth and she became a great grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
What of Rahab the harlot? She belonged to one of the worst professions in the world, yet God favored her, and she became one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene was a woman possessed by 7 demons, yet she was the first person to see Jesus Christ after his resurrection. What of the 300 wives and 700 concubines of King Solomon? What of Bathsheba who captivated King David with her beauty, causing him to commit an unpardonable sin? What shall we say of women like Dorcas, a righteous woman who gave selflessly to others. What of Lois and Eunice, the grand mother and mother of Timothy?
Hagar, was sent away with her son, Ishmael by her mistress Sarah wife of Abraham because Sarah wanted to secure the future of her own son, Issac. When she ran out of water in the desert, she cried to God in her distress and God opened her eyes to see a well of water. She gave God one of his covenant names of “Jehovah El Roi” or the God who sees me”.
With so many examples to choose from, what should be the guiding principle for a woman who genuinely loves the Lord and her family? Proverbs 31:10-31 gives a good description of what good woman should be.
“A truly good wifeis the most precious treasure a man can find! Her husband depends on her, and she never lets him down. She is good to him every day of her life, and with her own hands she gladly makes clothes. She is like a sailing ship that brings food from across the sea. She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and for her servants. She knows how to buy land and how to plant a vineyard, and she always works hard. She knows when to buy or sell, and she stays busy until late at night. She spins her own cloth, and she helps the poor and the needy. Her family has warm clothing,and so she doesn't worry when it snows. She does her own sewing and everything she wears is beautiful. Her husband is a well-know and respected leader in the city. She makes clothes to sell to the shop owners. She is strong and graceful as well as cheerful about the future. Her words are sensible and her advice is thoughtful. She takes good careof her family and is never lazy. Her children praise her, and with great pride her husband says, “There are many good women but you are the best!” Charm can be deceiving and beauty fades away but a womanwho honors the Lord deserves to be praised. Show her respect—praise her in public for what she has done.” CEV
What a wonderful testimony for a lovely and virtuous woman!
The greatest woman in the Bible is Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Even though she did not preach a single sermon or work a miracle, yet her place in history is secure because she gave birth to the Savior of the world.
We first met Mary as a teenager, espoused to be married to Joseph, a carpenter. As Mary went about her duties, God saw in her the qualities that made her suitable to carry the most precious gift to the world. Some of these qualities may have been her humility, gentleness, kindness, selflessness and genuine love and respect for others.
When Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel, he greeted her a being “highly favored of the Lord”. What a wonderful and greeting and honor to have been bestowed on a humble virgin girl!
When Angel Gabriel told her the good news that she would give birth to the Savior, she didn’t argue with him. She simply asked how this wonderful event was going to happen. Her question provoked one of the most profound passages in the Bible. In Luke 1:37, the Angel said:
“Nothing is impossible for God!” CEV
The power of God was working mightily in Mary that when she visited her relative, Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist and she greeted Elizabeth, the baby lept in her womb for joy. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit that she sang a song of praise. In Luke 1:46-55:
“Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my Savior. God cares for me, his humble servant. From now on, all people will sayGod has blessed me. God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy. He always shows mercyto everyone who worships him. The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud. God drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power. God gives the hungry good things to eat and sends the rich away with nothing. God helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people. The Lord made this promise to our ancestors to Abraham and his family forever!” CEV
Mary spent about 3 months with Elizabeth before she departed. Shortly before it was time for Mary to give birth to her son, Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census. Therefore, Joseph took a very heavily pregnant Mary from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Upon arrival, she gave birth to her first-born son, Jesus Christ. Since there was no room at the Inn, Jesus was born in a manger with animals. There, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords was born.
After his birth, Angels came down to earth to celebrate his birth and announced this to shepherds in the field at night. Also, 3 Wise men came from the East and gave him gifts. Gold to show his kingship, Frankincense to show his priesthood and Myrrh to symbolize his death.
Mary was also present at the dedication ceremony and at other times with Jesus. She was present when they nailed Jesus to the cross. Finally. Mary and the brothers of Jesus were present with the other disciples in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost.
As we have seen, Mary was a virtuous woman, an epitome of womanhood.
To all our womenfolk reading this, we ask you:
“What kind of a woman are you?”
Are you like Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Or are you like the Proverbs 31 woman, who received accolades and honor from her husband and those around her? Or are you like Jezebel, Delilah and Athaliah all rolled into one?
The Bible says in Matthew 7:20:
“Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” NKJV
Who are your fruits?
What legacy are you leaving behind?
Do you know where your children are at this time?
What moral values have you given to your children?
Are your children a blessing or a burden to society?
Judas Iscariot was the son of a woman. What kind of upbringing did she give him?
A child does not go bad in one day. They must have seen some traces of bad character in their parents and want to emulate them.
Remember, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
We ask you today, mothers of Douglas Alexander, Henry Eugene, and Stanley- do you know where your children are today? Perhaps they are hiding in the attic of another house? Are you giving them protection as they continue to commit more crimes? Do you regularly visit them at the crime scene and then go to church on Sunday, lifting up unholy hands?
How will you celebrate Mother’s Day? Will you visit and applaud their criminal behavior or hang your head in shame?
If you have failed with your children, how about your grandchildren? What are you doing to ensure that they don’t end up in another person’s attic in future? What are you trying to achieve by taking them to a crime scene to visit their fathers? Don’t you know that doing so will result in their ending up just like their fathers?
Now that your son has graduated from “Drug Dealers College” and has used the proceeds to buy a Maserati, a Porsche or a Mercedes Benz, now what? You know very well that whatever he’s doing is illegal, yet you sit comfortably in the car, raising unholy hands in gratitude.
Shame on you!
What of the mother of Douglas the altar boy, a lover of card tricks and now a high-profile criminal? Is she proud of your present infamous acts? Remember, you are the unhappy fruit of her upbringing.
What of you, Stanley? You started out stealing pencils and food in school. Now you have become a full-grown criminal, planting cameras in your neighbors' houses to view their naked bodies. Is your mother proud of your achievements?
Finally, for those who are charged with enforcement of rights, how will you spend Mothers Day? With your mother or the mother of your children? How will you feel when you hand over your Mother’s Day gift to them and they thank you for all you do. Will you feel proud or guilty, knowing that there is an injustice that needs to be redressed, but which you have failed to address?
We close today in the words of Proverbs 11:21:
“Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” NKJV
Invitation to Salvation.
Jesus is calling you today. He is saying to you:
“Come to me all who are tired from carrying your heavy loads and I will give you rest”. Mathew 11:28
If you want to accept this invitation, pray to God. You can say something like this:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you today. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know you personally.I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in and be my Lord and personal Savior.Take control of my life.Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.Make me the kind of person that you want me to be. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.”
If you have sincerely put your trust in Jesus to be your Savior, welcome to the household of God!
