Honoring Mothers
Scripture Reference: Psalm 127: 1-5
’Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage from the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As sorrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
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Introduction:
Today we want to honor the mothers that are in our congregation. We have many reasons we should honor them --- for the sacrifical, unselfish love they have given us, all the loving deeds they have done for us throughout our lives, for all the prayers they have prayed for us, and for all the sleepless nights they have spent for us with tears running down their cheeks. Mothers may not sit behind a big office desk with a view overlooking the city, but there is no job that more important than that of a mother. Their job is often demanding and often unrewrading.
This morning I’d like for us to look at four (4) special characteristics of a Christian mother and how these traits have an effect upon those under her care.
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#01:) JOY:
Many people think that joy and happiness are the same, but they are not. Joy comes from having a right relationship with God, our eternal creator. When things are right between us and God we can experience the joy that comes from the LORD. Happiness is the feeling we feel when the things in our realm of life are going well for us. Joy is not easily lost because our relationship with God does not change just because conditions or circumstances change. (Or at least it should not) Even when we are in a valley we have the full assurance that God loves us and that we are His children. Regardless of what is taking place, Gos is at work in our lives, working all things together for our good. God is always in total control of things and He is all wise- all knowing and all powerful. God is always on our side desiring the very best for us. There is nothing that we could do that would cause God to stop loving us. He may not love the things we may do, but He will always be found loving us. Therefore no child of God should ever allow Satan to rob them of their joy. Satan does not have the power to take your joy from you. The only way you can lose it is to give it away.
In looking at the JOY of a mother, joy is the greatest gift she could possibly give to her family. It is such a blessing from above to have a "JOYFUL MOTHER", who regardless of the disappointments and difficulities of everyday life, she continues to go about with a joyful spirit, always uplifting and encoraging those within her care. Mothers can always seem to see the good times are just around the corner and they keep on encouraging their children to continue looking up to God, who is the source of our strength in weary times. To all Christian mothers, God seems to say, "Rejoice, in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice." Philippians 4:4 ’For the joy of the LORD is our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) Thank God for joyous mothers. How many times would we have stopped trusting without mother telling us, "Child, a better day is coming. You just keep on trying. I love you and God loves you."
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#02: PEACE:
So many people today are looking for PEACE but do not know where to begin to find it. PEACE does not mean everything is perfect in our lives. Peace comes when we know that all things are under control. However, to know peace we have to know God. As humans we can never truly say that everything is under control. We are weak creatures. We don’t know what will happen next. We may hammer down all the boards and turn around and a nail has popped up somewhere else. It seems like we spend so much of life nailing down boards that keep popping up. Yet, God is not weak and frail as we are. God really does have all things under His control. Nothing catches God off gaurd. He is always prepared for everything. To know peace we have to place all of our faith and all of our trust in God. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" ( John 14:27)
’ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." (Philippians 4:7) A Christian mother who knows personally the peace of God abiding in her heart can help keep her home a place of peace and serenity. A peaceful home is a wonderful place to return to after a hard day of being in a society that is full of havoc.
#03: THANKFULNESS:
We are often guilty of looking at the bad rather than the good, the negative instead of the positive. We tend to murmur rather than express our thankfulness. But as Christians we are encouraged to think on things that are edifying and uplifting. When we do this we can have a good attitude regardless of what is going on. "Whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Paul wrote those words while being confined in prison. His circumstances did not hinder his view of his blessings. Thankfulness is a matter of being in control of our mind, of our thoughts, and keeping them upon the pile of things that we are blessed with. When we allow our minds to wander over into that negative realm and we begin to focus upon all the wrong things taking place, whether with us or with others, we get discouraged and depressed and it is hard to climb out of that bottomless pit. However, a Christian mother will focus upon the good things they have to enjoy. They guide their children into thankfulness by being thankful themselves. They focus upon the good things in their children. And they major in those things. They do not totally ignore the bad things. We all have areas that are weak and need work but when a Christian mother keeps reminded her children of their good qualities it gives them the courage to deal with the areas that need working on. The way a mother looks at life goes a long way in how her children will face life when they are adults. Thank God for mothers who are truly thankful for what they have rather than complaining of the things they do not have.
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#04: The last characteristic is a mother’s
DEPENDENCE UPON ALMIGHTY GOD.
Dependency is an attitude that leans upon the strength, the wisdom, and the realization that we cannot survive without the help of someone or something mightier than we are. Here we are referring to God being that source of strength. In our society today many mothers have focused upon their own careers with the attitude, "I AM WOMAN AND I CAN DO ANYTHING!" It is good for mothers to be strong and to have self confidence but the Christian mother realizes that regardless of her strength she would be no where without God to lean on. I recall my own mother reminding me everyday where our blessings came from. We were a very poor family. My father was a farmer who mostly worked for other people. We did not have a lot of things other families had. And there were many lean times. But my mother always encouraged me that God would never leave us nor forsake us. He would always meet our needs. She may have gone somewhere by herself and shed her tears but she never did so in my presence. Throughout her life she came to the realization that God is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in times of trouble.
I remember when I was 10 years old I became very sick.
I was afraid and fearful. I recall one day when I cried and cried, I was afraid I was going to die. Mother kept encouraging me to pray and talk to Jesus. She sang over and over to me,"Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so." In a couple of weeks I was back to par but I will never forget how mother kept assuring me to depend upon God for my healing. I’ve had to depend upon God hundreds and hundreds of times since then. But it was mother that first taught me how to trust and who to trust in.
Dottie Rambo wrote in her song: Build My Mansion
"Mother was the first one to teach me of heaven
And the very first one to ever tell me about
You."
So many mothers today are dependent upon drugs or alcohol, but thank God for the mothers that will show their children, their dependence upon God. Christians mothers realize: "Except God build the house, they labor in vain that built it."
CONCLUSION:
To mothers here this morning, allow me to just remind you of something I know you are already aware of so much. As you look about your home you will see things you worked hard to obtain. Furniture, decorations, new cars in the garage, etc. But the things of greatest value within your home are your children. HANDLE THEM WITH CARE.
