Mother

Mother’s

May 13, 2007

Introduction

Today is Mother’s Day. I’m sure most of you have heard the history of Mother’s Day. It is actually a rather recent addition to our list of holidays. Let me just recount a brief history of Mother’s Day:

It was 1876 and the nation still mourned the Civil War dead. While teaching a Memorial Day lesson, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis thought of mothers who had lost their sons. She prayed that one day there could be a "Memorial Day" for mothers. The prayer made a deep impression on one of Mrs. Jarvis's eleven children. Young Anna had seen her mother's efforts to hold the war-split community and church together. As she grew into adulthood, the younger woman kept Mrs. Jarvis's dream in her heart. On the day of her mother's death, Anna was determined to establish Mother's Day in her honor.

On May 12, 1907, a local observance was held which later spread to Philadelphia. By 1910, Mother's Day was celebrated in forty-five states, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. Elated, Miss Jarvis told a friend, "Where it will end must be left for the future to tell. That it will circle the globe now seems certain."

On May 8, 1914, President Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day "for displaying the American flag and for the public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of the country."

Almost 100 years after the first “official” national celebration of Mother’s Day, things may have changed a bit. Hopefully part of the war memories has been replaced with most of us just remembering our mothers.

The most universal aspect of motherhood is that we all have, or had a mother at one time. Many of us today have lost our mothers. For some, that has been rather recently. There are the young ladies who hope to become mothers some day. There are those who cannot be mothers by nature, so this morning, we will confine our thoughts to thinking in terms of motherhood, and what it means to all of us.

Body

I There have been many great mothers.

A I hope all of you have a mother that you love very much.

B Timothy had a great mother and grandmother.

1. Paul told of the great faith that had been given to Timothy.

(2 Tim 1:5 NKJV) when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

2. There is no greater gift than passing on a spiritual heritage.

(Deu 6:6-7 NKJV) "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. {7} "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

C Some of our national leaders have credited their mothers with making them the great men they were.

1. Many of you have heard Abraham Lincoln’s statements about his mother.

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." -- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

2. George Washington had similar praise for his mother.

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." -- George Washington (1732-1799)

II We are to honor our parents.

A The Bible teaches us to honor our parents.

(Eph 6:1-3 NKJV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: {3} "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

“To ‘honor’ is to obey, to reverence, to speak kindly to, to speak and think well of.” – Albert Barnes

1. Ironically, we must teach our children honor and respect.

2. We like to be our children’s friends and playmates, but they also need a healthy respect for us which sets us apart from their friends.

3. The honor we are talking about today goes beyond cards and gifts exchanged today. It must be everyday.

B. Parents must bring up their children to honor them and others.

1. We are told whom we are to honor.

(1 Pet 2:17-18 NKJV) Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. {18} Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

2. God has an order of authority in the spiritual realm.

(1 Cor 11:3 NKJV) But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

3. God requires respect in the realm of government.

(Rom 13:7 NKJV) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

III. Parents have a great responsibility to bring their children up to fear the Lord.

(Eph 6:4 NKJV) And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

A. Proverbs has much to say about child training.

(Prov 23:14 NKJV) You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.

(Prov 23:14 NIV) Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

(Prov 23:14 NCV) If you spank them, you will save them from death.

B. Training is essential for their well being.

(Prov 19:18 NKJV) Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

C. Will we “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord?”

It is so important that we can have a hope of seeing our children in the world to come.

James Dobson always told his children to live so they could all meet again in the world to come.

Conclusion

I. Today, we honor our mothers.

II. May we never forget that it is God Who gave us mothers and all that is good.

III. May we bring up our children to fear the Lord and do His will.

IV. Is your life right with God?

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