MOM STRONG!
[Slide One] One day a young daughter came up to her Mother saying, "Mom, there are five things I'm going to be when I grow up." "Oh? What are they?" "I'm going to be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, an archeologist, and an actress." "Wow, that's quite a list. But what about being a mom?" The daughter thought for a moment then answered, "No, that's too hard."
Ally Walker is an acclaimed actress who has worked many years in movies and TV. Being an actor is hard work and often involves long hours. But this mother of three said, "Being a mom is the hardest job I've ever had; but it's the most rewarding job I've ever had."
I have a feeling most moms share this sentiment. Moms can handle a lot; moms are tough. Army slogan, "Army Strong". There's Army Strong and then there's Mom Strong.
1) Mom strong starts with giving birth.
Being mom strong starts with just the fact that she has given birth. Men aren't that strong. If men could have babies every family would have an only child. Us guys don't get it; do we? [labor slide]. We might think we know what pain is but until we, as the moms would say, "pass a bowling ball through your you-know-what", then we don't know what pain is.
Two Dutch TV hosts who were sick of women saying men could never handle the worst kind of pain there is decided to find out for themselves. With cameraman in tow, Dennis Storm and Valerio Zeno, head to a cushy birthing center in Amsterdam, where two technicians hooked them up to a labor contraction simulator. The idea was to see if they could endure the pain for just two hours ( a short time compared to how long the average mom is in labor).
At first, both men were laughing. Then the technician says, “If you’re laughing we haven’t set it high enough.” At one point Storm asks Zeno if he should hold his hand for comfort. “No, that’s okay,” Zeno says, grimacing. After just 15 minutes, Zeno remarks there’s no way he could withstand the pain for two hours.
Both continue on, writhing, moaning and expressing disbelief. At one point the attendant tells Zeno to focus on a spot on the ceiling to get through the contraction. “I can’t focus,” he says. After trying some supplemental oxygen, Zeno finally said, “I can’t continue,”.
When asked to describe the experience, Zeno said, “I thought it was torture. I won’t dare get a woman pregnant.” Some moms have suggested this procedure be given to all fathers-to-be. Would any of you moms out there like to see your husbands go through this procedure?
Jeremiah understood labor pain. Jer. 30:6, "Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale?" Maybe it's because they went through this procedure!
Isaiah had a clue about labor pain too. When he was giving his prophecy against Babylon he compared what they would be feeling to a mom's labor pains. Isa 13:8, "Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame."
In another prophecy against Babylon, he said in 21:3, "At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor." The bible writers realized the pain that moms went through giving birth. Mom strong.
2) Bible moms who were Mom Strong.
After birth, the pain doesn't stop there. Then you have all the sacrifices and hardships that come with motherhood. I don't need to tell the moms here that motherhood can be pretty rough sometimes. Bible moms had it rough too. Let's take a look at a few of them.
We start with the first mom; Eve. How did she have it rough? Well, let's see-her older son murdered her younger son. Then, as a consequence, Cain was driven away from the land to live as a restless wanderer. So really, Eve lost both her sons. That's quite a bit to deal with, wouldn't you say?
But God had compassion on Eve for her great loss and gave her another son, Seth. She said, "God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." And according to Gen. 5:4, Adam and Eve had more sons and daughters over time.
Another mom who had it rough was Job's wife Dinah (her name is given in the Targum-Rabbinical explanations of the scriptures around the time of Jesus). Typically Job gets all the attention and his wife gets a bad rep. for being the one to try to get Job to curse God and die.
However, we should stop and think about what she was going through. She had just lost all of her kids in one disastrous event. Talk about a grieving mother! Then she has to watch her husband, whom she loves, whom she would need to lean on for support in such a tragic time, going through his own tragic ordeal. How much can one woman take?
Regarding Job 2:9, where Dinah said to Job, "Are you still holding onto your integrity? Curse God and die.", the Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) adds the following words: "Much time having elapsed, his wife said unto him, How long dost thou stand steadfast, saying, 'Behold, I wait yet a little longer looking for the hope of my Salvation?'
Behold thy memorial is already blotted out from the earth, together with thy sons and thy daughters, the fruits of my pains and labors, for whom with anxiety I have labored in vain. Thyself also sittest in the rottenness of worms night and day, while I am a wanderer from place to place, and from house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labors, and from the griefs which oppress me. Speak therefore some word against God, and die."
This revealing insight into the heart of a grieving mother can cause us to be a little more sympathetic with Job's wife. She had it rough. Just because she said what she did didn't mean she wasn't mom strong.
Moses' Mom, Jochebed. Pharaoh had issued a decree that all male Hebrew babies born were to be thrown into the Nile and drowned. Nice guy, huh? So when Jochebed gave birth to Moses, she knew she had to do something to try and save him.
She kept him hidden for three months but knew that couldn't continue so she placed him in a basket and hid him among the reeds in the Nile river. Remember, there are crocodiles in the Nile. Moms, can you imagine putting your three-month-old baby in a basket and putting him in a river infested with crocs?
But he was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter, who heard him crying. Moses' sister went to her and asked if she wanted one of the Hebrew women to nurse him and she said yes, so she went and got Jochebed. Then, when he was weaned (which sometimes lasted up to three years) Moses' mother returned him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son.
How hard would that be? Yes, she was happy that he would survive and that she was his nurse but she eventually had to let him go to be raised by another woman. Moses' mom had it rough.
Then there's Mary-having to deal with all of what Jesus went through. Having to hear all the negative things said about her son. Having the heavy heart of knowing the religious leaders hated him so much. Not to mention when it came time for the torture and crucifixion.
That's one of the things that impacted me when I watched the Passion of the Christ. You obviously had what Jesus went through but then you watched Mary go through it too. Moms, can you imagine watching your child go through that?
I'm sure it pained Mary greatly to endure her son's pain knowing there was nothing she could do about it. I'm sure it took every amount of strength for Mary to not rush in and throw herself on her son to try to block the savage beatings. I'm sure if Mary could she would've gladly taken her son's place.
But what did Simeon say when Joseph and Mary came to present Jesus at the temple when he was eight days old? Luke 2:34-35, "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Maybe some of you moms can relate to going through trials and hardships with your kids and feeling like a sword has pierced your soul too. Bible moms had a lot to contend with. The moms of today have a lot to contend with too.
Having to do 10 things at once; having to wear many hats; all the while trying to maintain order and sanity. Perhaps you can relate to the mom who said, "Half the time I feel like I'm running an insane asylum. The other half I feel I belong in one." Mom strong.
3) "Listen to your mother!"
Have you ever had an experience where your mother gave you some advice or instruction and you didn't take and later wished you had? [Mom's advice regarding my girlfriends-one time I listened and another I didn't-but wished I had!]
Prov. 1:8-9, "Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."
Moms have a lot of valuable insight and wisdom to share and pass along to their kids. The best instruction mom can give is when it comes to godly instruction. Jesus' mother, Mary has only one recorded commandment in scripture. It was at the wedding in Cana.
When they had run out of wine, Mary mentioned it to Jesus. Jesus responded with, "why are you involving me?" Mary doesn't respond to Jesus, she goes to the servants and says, "Do whatever he tells you." Then Jesus goes ahead and pulls off the first recorded miracle.
Mary knew Jesus could intervene. Obviously he had done some kind of miracle before this in order for Mary to know that he could do something about it. Mary knew Jesus' abilities. She trusted in his wisdom and ability so much that she simply says, " just do whatever he tells you to."
That's how we need to be. What better instruction could moms give their children? "Do whatever Jesus said" or "Do what the Bible teaches." And what makes these teachings stay with the kids is when mom sets a good example in following the words of Jesus. When the kids see mom living out her faith it makes an impact on them.
A young boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it didn't help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world!"
Many mothers have been a light in this world by living out their faith. There is no better example that a mother could give to her children than living by faith in the Lord. When Mom is following Christ, the kids see Christ in action. Think about what can happen when mom is faithfully holding her kids up in prayer.
Ed Hill, Pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, tells the story of how Mama’s love and prayers changed his life. During the height of the Depression, Hill’s real mother, who had five children of her own, didn’t have enough food to go around, so she sent four-year-old Ed to live with a friend in a small country town called, Sweet Home. Ed just called her Mama.
As he was growing up in Sweet Home, Mama displayed remarkable faith which led her to have big plans for young Ed. Against nearly insurmountable obstacles, Mama helped Ed graduate from high school (the only student to graduate that year from the country school) and even insisted that he go to college. She took Ed to the bus station, handed him the ticket and five dollars and said, "Now, go off to Prairie View College, and Mama's going to be praying for you."
Hill claims that he didn’t know much about prayer, but he knew Mama did. When he arrived at the college with $1.90 in his pocket, they told him he needed $80.00 in order to register. Here’s how Hill describes what happened next:
I got in line...and the devil said to get out of line...but I heard my Mama saying in my ear, "I’ll be praying for you." So I stayed in line. Soon there was one student ahead of me, and I began to get nervous, but I stayed in line.
At just about the time the other student got all of her stuff and turned away, this man named Dr. Drew touched me on the shoulder, and he said, "Are you Ed Hill?" I said, "Yes." "Ed Hill from Sweet Home?" "Yes." "Have you paid yet?" "Not quite." "We’ve been looking for you all morning." I said, "Why?" "Well, we have a four-year scholarship that will pay your room and board, your tuition, and give you thirty dollars a month to spend." And I could hear Mama saying, "I will be praying for you!" Being mom strong involves living out your faith.
4) Supermom.
Moms make sacrifices all the time. And in some ways it is easy for her to do so but then there are times when it isn't so easy. Out of the French Revolution came a story of a mother who wandered through the woods for three days with her two children, trying to survive on anything she could find. Then she heard some soldiers approaching and quickly hid herself and the children behind some bushes.
The sergeant in charge noticed the movement, so he prodded the bushes to see what was stirring behind them. When he saw the starving woman and children, he had compassion on them and immediately gave them a loaf of brown bread. The mother eagerly took the bread, broke it into two pieces and gave them to her two children.
The sergeant noted, "She has kept none for herself." A soldier asked, "Is it because she's not hungry?" "No," the sergeant answered. "It is because she is a mother." This mother resisted her own hunger in order to alleviate her children's. If this situation had happened with my mother and she broke the bread and gave the two pieces to me and my brother the first thing you would've heard was, "Hey, his piece is bigger than mine!"
It takes strength to be sacrificial; it takes strength to continue to put the needs of others ahead of your own. Our natural inclination is to satisfy self. But then motherhood comes and nurturing kicks in and she becomes self-sacrificing; putting the needs of her kids first.
There are still times when she will be tempted to put herself first; but the loving mother resists that urge and continues to make sacrifices in order for her kids to have what they need. And she keeps doing this even though she is rarely shown appreciation for it. But she doesn't do it for recognition; she does it for love.
When we think of the characteristics of a godly woman, wife, mother we look to the example given in Prov. 31:10-31. This is a long passage and I'm not going to read it all but in vs. 10-24 you see some noteworthy things mentioned about this woman. She is valuable, her husband has confidence in her and she's good to him, she's a hard worker, she is strong, she conducts business, she helps the poor and needy, she takes good care of her family.
Prov. 31:25-27, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Many consider the Prov. 31 description depicts the ideal woman. Although no woman lives up to this perfectly, I think a lot of moms live up to this model pretty well. Before you conclude that you're nowhere near this example consider this-do you think the Prov. 31 mom was perfect? Do you think she ever came out of character? I'm sure she got bent out of shape a few times; I'm sure she made some 'not so wise' decisions once-in-a-while.
While we're not given those details, I'm sure this mom, as noble as she is, had her moments. Quote, "There is no way to be a perfect mom but there are a million ways to be a good one". You don't have to be a perfect mom to be mom strong. You're probably doing a much better job than you think you are.
That's why we kids and husbands need to acknowledge how good of a job mom is doing. 28-31, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
We see that her sacrifices and hard work are rewarded by her children and husband. Make sure your Mom or your wife know that their hard work is appreciated. One evening, while mom was at a PTA meeting, her husband and oldest daughter decided they would clean the kitchen and surprise her when she got home. They washed all the dishes, put away the pots and pans, cleaned the stove and counter-top; the kitchen was spotless.
Later, when mom came home from the meeting, she walked in the kitchen and got herself something to drink and then went into the den to watch TV with her family. She didn't said a word about the kitchen. Finally, her husband said, "Honey, did you notice the clean kitchen?" "I did," she said. "Well, aren't you going to say thank you?" She said, "Why should I? It's a thankless job, isn't it?"
Mothering often is a thankless job and we can easily take her for granted. [last slide] Let's make sure we acknowledge mom today. She is Wonder Woman. She is Super Mom! She is Mom Strong!
