(First shared in 2011, I’ve kept the formatting as I did when I first began blogging.)
Ex 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) (3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
These scriptures could easily be shared on Father’s day, yet there is something special about Mother’s Day. Not only was she once like the child she now covers with love and prayer, but she also became an adult and brought you into this world. She cared and nurtured you until you felt strong enough to leave the nest. Yet, she never stops being your mother.
Yesterday, through Facebook, I shared a lot of memories with some cousins (older than me) whose mothers and fathers were siblings to my maternal grandmother, Audrey Simmons, a prayer warrior and a faithful child of God who showed my mom how to live life as a Christian. That was passed on to me.
It got me thinking about memories. In fact, I call this posting “A Walk Down Memory Lane” to spark a thought of the heritage your mom has left in your life. Moms have always played a vital role in our lives, and Mother’s Day provides you with an opportunity to honor and give thanks to them.
Our scriptures tell us to honor and obey… It does not tell us that we have to understand or agree with them! Children, and this message is to all of us because we are all children today… Honor your mother!
Over the centuries, Moms have been given jobs of great faith. Let me share some moms with you in the order of History.
Jochebed – Mother of Moses, was the wife of Amram and the mother of Moses. When Pharaoh commanded all Hebrew baby boys to die, the midwives feared God more and Moses was born anyway. Mothers and fathers have often feared for the future of their children. Imagine her personal fear! To save his life she placed her baby boy in a basket and let him float down the river. Who knows if Jochebed placed him on the river strategically close to Pharaoh’s daughter or not, yet he was found and spared. Imagine her fear and broken heart as he floated away from her. Pharaoh’s daughter saw a beautiful child and needed someone to nurse him. Jochebed was the woman hired to perform this task. Moses was taught about God during this time.
Lesson: No matter how hostile the environment a godly woman can teach her children about God.
Hannah – Mother of Samuel, was the wife of Elkanah, but she was barren. She prayed and God answered. This woman dedicated her son to the Lord. After he grew she weaned him and took him to Eli. There is no definite age, however, we do know this child was very young. “Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (1 Samuel 2:19).
Lesson: God answers prayers of mothers.
Sarah – Mother of Isaac. Sarah’s name means “mother of nations”. Every time someone called her by name or anytime she introduced herself to someone she was making a statement of faith, calling herself the mother of many nations even before she had a child. By this time she was already 90 years old.
Lesson: Mothers, do not laugh at the promises of God, He’s not laughing.
Mary – Mother of Jesus, a virgin, though promised to marry to Joseph, was with child. She was not asked how she felt about this situation, God chose her and she had to accept what happened. This was during a time where young unmarried pregnant women were stoned. During her life she would get to see him grow (Luke 2:52), perform miracles (John 2:1-11), gather large crowds (John 6), die a horrible death, come back to life, and be taken away into Heaven.
Lesson: Sometimes God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
Eunich – Mother of Timothy. Lois was the mother of Eunich. We read of her grandson, Timothy, but Timothy’s mother was Eunich. We also know that Timothy’s father was a gentile, Acts 16:1. We also know Timothy learned the Holy Scriptures while growing up, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Timothy 3:15a). Lois and Eunich worked as a team in teaching Timothy.
Lesson: Generational exposures to children accomplish much.
This final mother is probably one that you have never heard of. In fact, most Christians may have heard of her son’s name but could not accurately describe his importance. This mother is Monica of Hippo. She was Augustine of Hippo’s mother, born in the year 332 in what’s now modern-day Algeria. Monica married a pagan non-Christian man who was very violent. She constantly prayed for him and he eventually did become a Christian. When her son Augustine went off to study in Carthage, he got into a life of Manichaeism (a form of Buddhism). Later, a bishop consoled her with the now famous words “the child of those tears shall never perish”. She prayed with heavy tears for 7 straight years until Augustine eventually did convert to Christianity. Not only did he become a Christian, but he also studied to become a priest and wrote many famous books.
Lesson: Mothers Never Give Up on their Children!
Here is a summary for all children today.
Jochebed – Lesson: No matter how hostile the environment a godly woman can teach her children about God.
Hannah – Lesson: God answers the prayers of mothers.
Sarah – Lesson: Mothers, do not laugh at the promises of God, He’s not laughing.
Mary – Lesson: Sometimes God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
Eunich – Lesson: Generational exposures to children accomplish much.
Monica – Lesson: Mothers Never Give Up on their Children!