The Best Gift My Mother Ever Gave Me Series

Mother’s Day 2014

The Greatest Gift My Mother Ever Gave To Me

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:9-18

I want to say to each of the mothers present today and to those of you reading this message “Happy Mother’s Day!” I have been thinking about what I wanted to say to you this morning and unlike previous messages I may have delivered on Mother’s Day, this morning I want to share part of my personal story. Some of you may have heard parts of this message before but I ask that you stay with me until then end.

As many of you know, my mother died twenty-eight years ago yesterday, May 10, 1986, the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Her death changed how I viewed and celebrated this special day. What has helped (and continues to help) me get through this special weekend every year for the last twenty-eight years are the other good mothers who are present in my life – my wife, mother-in-law, grand-mothers-in law, family members and each of you. All of the special mothers in my life have given their kids a gift similar to what my mother gave me. Before we go there, let me read to you part of a story from First Samuel chapter one. I will begin reading at verse nine.

“Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.’ Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.’ But Hannah replied, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.’ Then Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.’ She said, ‘Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.’ So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked him of the Lord.’ Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever.” (1 Samuel 1:9-22)

This story is very appropriate for what I wish to share with you. This is the story of Hannah and her desire to have a son. She was oppressed because she was barren and she prayed to God that He would give her a son. When she prayed, she made a promise to God that if He gave her a son she would give him back to Him for life. She wanted a son so badly that she was willing not to live with him and give him to God if God would just bless her with one. God heard her cry and gave her a son whom she named Samuel. Hannah was true to her word for as soon as she had weaned Samuel, she took him to the priest Eli where he remained. If you read the entire story you will find that this child grew to become a prophet and judge in Israel. God answered Hannah’s prayer and gifted her with a son. She in turn gave her son back to God. This gift that she gave to God opened the door for him to become a great prophet and judge in Israel.

This morning the title of my message is “The Greatest Gift My Mother Ever Gave Me.” I want to say up front that I had a great father who was very present in our lives, but as this is Mother’s Day I will focus on her. So when I say some things referencing my mother, please understand that she was not alone in this and my father was there beside her.