Mother’s Day

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” Washington Irving

Dear Mothers, I would like to remind you again of the high status of your calling. In the midst of all your mothering, when you often feel exhausted, worried, frazzled and overwhelmed, it is easy to forget the big picture and the divine task to which God has commissioned you. You are not involved in small or insignificant task. You have the highest calling in the nation. You have a far more important task than anybody ells. You are employed by a heavenly employer, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. Here are a few reminders of the greatness of your divine calling.

1. YOU ARE THE REVEALER OF GOD’S MATERNAL HEART
   Dear Mother, in all the activities and work of keeping your home, never lose sight of your highest purpose – to walk in the anointing of your maternal instinct. This is who you are. You were created to love and nurture you children. This is the greatest need of your children. This is the greatest need of today’s world. It does not matter if you do not finish every project and every teaching course you have planned for your children, but it does matter that your children live in an atmosphere of nurture and love.
   “Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible”. Marion C. Garrett
2. YOU ARE A NATION SHAPER
   More than anyone else, you as a mother can determine the destiny of the nation. You may feel as though you are hidden in your home while many of your neighbours drive off to work each morning. They may think you are wasting your life or time, but they have no idea of what you are doing! They don’t realize that you are shaping lives. You are polishing and sharpening “arrows”. As Chinese proverb stated: “A mother plants the trees; but the society gets the shade”. You are getting children ready to fulfil God’s divine purposes for their lives. There will come a day when they will come forth out of your home to rock this nation – and even the world!
   Look out world! There is a mother in this home who knows who she is and knows her calling from God. You are like an awesome army with banners!
   “To nourish children and raise them against odds is any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.” – Marilyn French
3. YOU ARE A LEGACY MAKER
   You not only can but you determine the destiny of this nation and you have the power to influence the generations to come.
   “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
4. YOU ARE AN ETERNITY FILLER
   Your influence goes even beyond the many generations to follow. Motherhood is an eternal career. Every precious baby that you embrace from the hand of God is another eternal soul that will live forever. There is absolutely nothing more powerful and more eternal that you could do in this life than bring an eternal soul into this world! You will leave everything in this world behind – except your redeemed soul and the redeemed souls of your children.
   “Only mothers can think of the future-because they give birth to it in their children.” Maxim Gorky
   “Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the promised land. She prepares a world she will not see”. Pope Paul VI
5. YOU ARE A HOME NESTER
   Don’t let this humanistic society deceive you to think that your home is a boring place. On the contrary, it is a place of divine appointment for you. It is a sacred place. God chose the home as the place where He wants His children nurtured and raised. Before God gives us children, he first puts us in a home. Embrace your home.
   Psalm 113:9 “He makes the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.”
6. YOU ARE THE SENTINEL OF YOUR HOME
   Husbands guard the city gates but you stand sentry at your home, guarding against all inroads of the enemy. You watch in prayer. You watch over the bodies, souls and spirits of your children.
   “If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
   If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
   If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
   If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
   But if children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
   If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
   If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
   If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
   If children live with security, they learn to have faith.
   If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
   If children live with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world”.
7. YOU ARE A WALKING PRAYER MEETING
   Prayer should be inseparable from your motherhood. Abraham Lincoln said, “I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all of my life.”
   Perhaps you have a child who has gone astray or is giving you much concern. Don’t despair. Keep praying. They cannot get away from your prayers.
8. YOU ARE THE BEST TEACHER AND TRAINER
   There is no one who can teach your children better than you can. Proverbs 6:20-23 says, “Do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you…”
   Abraham Lincoln said: “The greatest lessons I ever learned were at my mother’s knees.”
   George Washington said: “All that 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.”
   John Wesley said: “I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians.”
   “My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune”. Graycie Harmon
   Dear Mothers, God has chosen you to be the mother of your children. No one can do it is well as you can. And God is behind you all the way. He has commissioned you to the task and He will empower you.
   Taken from “Letter to all Mothers” Nancy Campbell

PRAYER

Gracious and loving God – we thank you for our mothers – and we pray all good things for them – may we, their children – live as one – and may our world – be a safe place – for all our brothers and sisters. Amen

Mother, Mother,
how can I begin to tell you
All that you mean to me?
You are the kind of person
That someday I want to be.
You have given me your very best;
And I want you now to know
That because of you my life has been blessed
And I love you so