A Mother’s Love
Thesis: A mother’s love is demonstrated by her eager attitude toward her family work and by her word’s of wisdom and insight to the family members.
Humor Illustrations: Hilarious Words of Motherly Wisdom from http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/mother/motherquotes.htm
CUSTER’S MOTHER
"Now, George, remember what I told you --
don’t go biting off more than you can chew!"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S MOTHER
"Again with the stovepipe hat, Abe?
Can’t you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?"
BARNEY’S MOTHER
"I realize strained plums are your favorite, Barney,
but you’re starting to look a little purple."
BATMAN’S MOTHER
"It’s a nice car, Bruce, but do you realize
how much the insurance is going to be?"
GOLDILOCKS’ MOTHER
"I’ve got a bill here for a busted chair from
the Bear family. You know anything about this, Goldie?"
LITTLE MISS MUFFET’S MOTHER
"Well, all I’ve got to say is if you don’t get
off your tuffet and start cleaning your room,
there’ll be a lot more spiders around here!"
ALBERT EINSTEIN’S MOTHER
"But, Albert, it’s your senior picture.
Can’t you do something about your hair?
Styling gel, mousse, something...?"
JONAH’S MOTHER
"That’s a nice story, but now tell me
where you’ve really been for the last three days."
THOMAS EDISON’S MOTHER
"Of course I’m proud that you invented the electric
light bulb, Thomas. Now turn off that light and get to bed!"
Hands On exercise to honor our mothers:
Today we want to say thank you for your selfless love and dedication to your family moms.
So today we are going to honor you our mothers by filling out this handout. I would like you to write about your mothers love for you. As we hand out these papers you will see that we would like you to complete the thought started for you about your Mother. “I know my mother loves me because…..”
We want you to fill in the blank and then we will have some judges pick out and give awards for the following 4 categories:
1. The best story about a mother’s love.
2. The funniest story about a mother’s love.
3. The most tear jerking story about a mother’s love.
4. The most creative story about a mother’s love.
The 4 chosen will be given a present to give to their mothers-- so please note at the top right hand side of your handout whether you are able to give this gift to your mother today or not.
Please note if your mother has passed away or is in another part of the country we would still desire you fill this out so that we can honor her today.
I will at the end of my message today share some of these stories with the others to encourage them and to honor your mothers love for you. So please consider honoring your mom today.
We do have a gift to give out today to every mother because we want to say, “Thank You for what your doing for your children.”
We also know that every mother here today is special and deserves to be honored so there is a gift for everyone of you moms. This box here is full of goodies for you mom so at the end of the service you are invited to come up and choose one gift in honor of you mothers love for your family.
Introduction:
Most people love their mothers in a very special way because they received a very special love from their mothers. A mother’s love is the cornerstone to helping raise up successful children for the Lord. Listen to some of these famous people talk about the power of a mother’s love.
Abraham Lincoln: Famous Quotes on Mother
All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.
Napoleon Bonaparte: Famous Quotes on Mother
Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons.
Henry Ward Beecher: Famous Quotes on Mother
The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.
George Washington: Famous Quotes on 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.
Video Illustration: This is the music video done to Mark Schultz’s song “Letters From War!” It models the extent of a Mother’s love for her child. A mother’s love gives strength and power to the life of a child who is going through hard times in life. It shows the value of a mother’s love.
A University of Minnesota study on Motherhood released this week said moms should get $131,000 a year for what they do! When you add together all the different jobs they do it becomes obvious how valuable mothers are in our lives. Some reports say mothers do 17 different jobs while raising their children: Here are some examples: psychologist, social worker, doctor, nurse, executive chef, teacher, police officer, judge, counselor, manager, dish washer, maid, financial manager, etc. One researcher stated, "Of course, no one can place a value on the love and affection that mothers give to their families." But it shows what they are worth far more than a 3 figure salary and their love and service to their families is “Priceless".
I would like to take a moment here and honor my mother because I knew growing up that my mother loved me.
I recall as I was growing up that the one security blanket I had as a child was I knew my mother loved me. My mothers love for me made me feel wanted and secure. My mom’s love was there for me in the tough times, in the bad times and in the good times. My mother’s love was consistent in the turbulent times I faced as a teenager. She never ever stopped loving me. I can honestly say that I never felt that my mom did not love me. She consistently and regularly showed me that she loved me. I even remember the time my brother and I were fighting in the driveway and mom cam out and said, “Stop fighting! You are going to hurt each other!” Of course my brother and I ignored her and we keep punching each other, choking each other and fighting. It was obvious to my mom that she needed to stop us before one of us got seriously hurt. So she warned us once again. We ignored her a second time and this time she picked up a wiffle ball bat that was laying in the yard and came over to us and whacked us both on the back with the bat. Believe me it hurt and it got our attention. She shocked both Bobby and I so much we quit fighting. I think we were stunned that she hit us with the bat but it worked she stopped us from hurting each other.
Bye the way we still tease her about beating us kids with a bat all the time. But it only happened this one time. Truth is she needed to get our attention and wake us up. I genuinely believe our whack with the bat was driven by a Mother’s love. Please note we were both in our teens and it was not abuse! It was done out of a love for her two sons to stop them from hurting each other not out of anger or rage.
My mom definitely fit the model of a woman who gave up everything to raise her children. She loved each of us 4 boys equally and unconditionally. I appreciate that my mom chose to raise me with morals, with discipline and with love. It made a great impression on my life and my brother’s lives. Thanks mom for being willing to sacrifice everything to raise me.
Today I want to look at Proverbs 31:10-31 and contemplate a mother’s love! This section of Scripture paints a portrait of a Mother’s love and what a woman of noble character looks like.
Scripture Text: Proverbs 31:10-31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
I read Proverbs 31:10-31 a few times in the last week and it always reminded me about this awesome woman God blessed me with in my life and in my kid’s life.
Words of thank You and Praise to my wife and the mother off my children:
Another woman I would like say thank you to today is my wife Kathy. I read through this list and noticed that Kathy role models what it means to be a wife of noble character, she is a godly woman who fears and loves God and a woman who sacrifices for her family and children continuously. She truly is deserving of being praised and honored by me and her kids today.
Please indulge me for a few seconds as I want to honor and praise my wife and my kid’s mother for her selfless sacrifice for our family. Today I want to bring her praise at the gates of New Life. She truly deserves it!
I first of all want to say that my wife Kathy is worth far more than precious jewels and rubies. I can say that I full confidence in her and she means the world to me. She is a person who role models servant leadership. She on a daily basis sacrifices all of her wants for her family’s needs and wants. I can say she always brings good things into our lives these good deeds are laced with a lot of humor and fun.
I love it when she jumps up and down on the bed in the morning to wake me up. When I look up there she is with a beaming smile on her face saying, “Good morning sleepy head, are you going to sleep all day?” I love that she consistently demonstrates selfless love to me and to the kids. She is a very hard worker and she never complains about it unless it’s within the context of this thought, “I wish I could do more at church!”
She works with eager hands as she teaches school and brings home extra finances for the family. She cooks and makes great meal’s each and every week. She really does gets up while it is still dark and begins her day with exercise and devotions to the Lord. She will in a weeks time do so many things and juggle so many things that she will amaze me. She will also in a week’s time give wise counsel to me or the girls. She will also take the time to encourage someone even outside the family in her week. She will clean and cook, she will serve at home, at school and at church. The girls tell me that she is a great bus driver and makes the commute to school interesting. She teaches kids at school all day and then will do it again on Wednesdays and on Sundays for the church and for the Lord. She is my best friend and my lifelong soul mate. She is a wonderful mother to the girls and now to Nick.
She opens her arms to the poor and needy and never regrets her efforts in helping others. She encourages all of us with her humor and fun filled attitude. She takes the time to love us and to uplift us with her words of encouragement. She does laugh at this life and at this world and seeks to find humor in life. Her desire is to bring joy and happiness into our lives and into others lives.
Kathy and I often have our talks at night or in the morning and her wisdom and insight into relationships and church business is insightful. My wife does not eat the bread of idleness at all. There have been many times when I have told her to back off from doing so much. She often tells me we have to do this because who else will and who will reach these people for the Lord. She always sees the needs of others and she places them first in her life. My kids and I call her the greatest blessing in our lives. Her love is selfless and genuine and we honor you this morning with the praise that is due you Kathy. You are the Mother of the Year in our eyes and we thank the Lord for you.
A few lessons learned from our text today:
A mother’s love is described by what she does above. As you listened to Proverbs who would not agree that a mother does more than just stay home with the kids. Mother’s are worth more than $130,000 a year and they need to be appreciated for what they do. So let’s reflect and remember what moms do and then take the time to honor them for their selfless sacrifice.
Proverbs gives us insight into what a woman of noble character looks like and acts like. Now realize there are no perfect women or mothers in this world. Everyone in this world has some imperfections. But even though we could point out flaws in our mothers God still says to make sure we honor them any way. Therefore we need to honor our mothers and recognize them for what they have done in our lives. This is why we are going to take the time this morning to communicate to them our deep and loving appreciation. Moms need to hear that they are doing an awesome job and they need to be praised for it.
T.S. - The point of Proverbs here is that we need to learn to honor and appreciate the godly women and mothers in our lives. The author reminds us that they are worth far more than fine costly jewels. In a sense the writer of Proverbs eludes to the fact that mothers and their love is priceless.
I. A Mother’s love is demonstrated to us by what she does for us.
a. Mom’s it seems are always doing something for us. The author of Proverbs 31:10-31 agrees because he states just a few things that many moms do for us on a daily basis. So let’s take note!
i. A mother’s love compels her to work with eager hands for her family.
1. Eager means having great enthusiasm, zeal, a great desire to do something for someone.
a. Think about this for a moment -- Have you noticed all the things that your mom has done for you. Did you ever pay enough attention to see how she works eagerly and in most cases joyfully to help meet your needs?
b. Did you ever notice how moms seldom know what it even means to be idle!
c. Moms are always busy picking up after us and serving us and being there for us. Why? Because their love compels them to care for their family.
i. Keeping watch over a family takes long days and a lot of work.
ii. But I have discovered that godly mothers due it with joy and with vigor.
iii. The angels…singing unto one another, Can find among their burning terms of love, none so devotional as that of “mother.” (12,000 Religious Quotations, Mead, page 314)
2. Have you paid attention to how she brings home the bacon (the food).
a. Mothers spend a lot of time bringing home the bacon for us hungry hogs ! They go shopping for it, they cook it, and it’s all done so that we can enjoy a great meal.
i. They do it out of love so that their family receives a healthy meal.
b. So tell your mom thanks for bringing in the food and then decide this week to cook for her all week.
i. Come on you can cook for one week!
ii. Also remember to say “Thank You!’” Tell her great meal mom “I loved the venison!”
3. Have you observed how early you moms get up?
a. Why do they do that? Why? So that she can get her work done and so that she can get a jump start on meeting your needs and even your wants.
b. Many moms get up early for the sole reason of getting done the household work. They prepare meals for the day or they do it to get some extra time to achieve all jobs required of motherhood.
i. Truth is many moms get up early to make sure that your day is blessed.
c. So I suggest that you ask your moms what you could do for this next week so that she does not have to get up as early this week.
i. Here is a thought! Let her be the one who sleeps in the most this week.
ii. Come on wake up sleepy head and don’t sleep all day! Get up and serve your mom for a week!
iii. Remember! You can do all things through Jesus who strengthens you!
4. Did you ever wonder why your mom works outside the home?
a. The amazing thing is mothers do this vigorously and with very little complaining. Why? Because their love for their family compels them to sacrifice for them and to work hard for them.
b. Did you ever consider that she actually does it for you so that she can make sure that you are clothed properly, that you have winter clothes? She does it so that you have shoes when you need them, so that you have spending money when you go on your field trips.
c. Most working moms do so to provide the little extras for their families.
d. So have you thanked you mom for giving that little extra and working that extra job to meet your needs?
i. Remember she does this to bless you and to even to supply some of your wants?
ii. So make sure you thank you moms for being willing to work a little extra so that you can have a little more in life.
1. Learn to appreciate her for it!
5. Did you notice how there are nights when she is even the last one into bed because of the things that need to be done for the family?
a. The late night concerts, banquets, the sports games, the house work, the bills that need paid. She does all of this sacrificially for the family and she needs to be recognized for it.
b. How about those middle of the night baby and kid times that rob her of sleep. She needs to be appreciated for the sacrifice she makes in these times too.
c. I believe we need to make a commitment to our wives and moms and help them to find ways to go to bed early.
i. We need to be willing to help ease her load this week. Remember she deserves some help from all us.
6. Mom’s work with eager hands for us and should we not want to work for her for a week in honor of all that she does.
a. This why we need to do things for her today and give them a break.
i. I encourage you to find a way to let mom have a day away and to be refreshed with some personal time for herself.
b. So I challenge you to go to your homes and to your mothers and not let them lift a finger today.
i. Let them be the ones in the reclining chair and you ask them, “Is there anything I can get you?”
c. You cook dinner this week.
d. You clean the house this week and decide to ease their load for a week.
e. Tell her you appreciate her hard work and sacrifice.
f. Say, “Thank you!” and even say to her, “I love you mom!”
i. It will brighten her day and you will see her face break out with a smile.
7. Penny parker found this true to life quote, "A mother is ...
One who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take." http://www.pennyparker2.com/motherhood.html
ii. A mother’s love also drives her to want to help out people in need.
1. A mother’s love is also seen by how a mom is always there to help out someone in need. She is always willing to open her arms and to welcome others into their home.
a. Moms love to nurture others and be there for others in times of need.
b. They are great at comforting others when they are down.
c. They are there to bring a meal to someone who is sick and in need of a little cheer.
2. Moms are always the best at inviting people into their home to help them. They know it will mean more work but her motherly love kicks in and she has to help out those in need.
a. Truth is many godly moms model what it says in 1 Corinthians 13: “4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
b. A mother’s love is always kind to others, it seeks to help out others and it even put others above their own needs and wants.
i. Moms need to be praised and thanked for their willingness to serve and support others in times of need.
c. Pastor Dr Paul Choo stated, “Mothers willingly forget their rights for their children’s sake. Let us willingly sacrifice our rights for the sake of those who are weaker.”
iii. So here is my challenge to you kids and husbands this week ask your moms what they want! I believe most will tell you that they don’t want something but what they really want is the family to spend time together.
1. Mom’s want us to give them our time and our fellowship. The truth is this is what they crave and desire more than any thing else. They love spending time with the ones they love because this makes their hearts leap for joy and it puts a smile on their face.
2. Have you ever wondered why moms have a hard time when the kids go off to college it’s because they love to be a part of their children’s lives and spend time with the ones they love.
a. Remember it does their hearts good to see their families all together for holidays!
b. SO be willing to sacrifice a little for your moms. When you do God in Heaven even smiles!
c. So spend some time with mom this week!
3. Earl Riney stated, “The mother love is like God’s love; He loves us not because we are lovable, but because it is His nature to love, and because we are his children” (Mead, pg. 314).
T.S. - A mother’s love is not just revealed to us by what she does but it’s revealed to us by what she says too.
II. A Mother’s love is demonstrated to us by what she says to us on a daily basis.
a. Proverbs 31: 26 tells us, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
i. Moms have that wisdom that can only come from their lips. It’s those little bits of inspiration and insight that we recall and we remember for ever.
1. John Wesley was a student at Oxford University, and he was shocked by the amount of drinking done by the students. After writing to his mother, Susanna Wesley, for her counsel, he received the following words: "My dear son: remember that anything which increases the authority of the body over the mind is an evil thing."
a. Susanna Wesley has become renowned for her many words of wisdom and insight to her two sons Charles and John Wesley.
b. Her words of insight and wisdom molded her children into great men of God who had a major impact on our world.
2. Abraham Lincoln stated “No man is poor who has had a Godly Mother” (12,000 Religious Quotations, Mead, page 313)
a. He often quoted about how his mothers encouragement and words of wisdom made him what he was “President of the United States.”
3. Preacher G. Campbell Morgan had four sons and they all became ministers of the gospel. At a family reunion, a friend asked one of the sons, "Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?" While that son looked at his father, he replied, "MOTHER."
a. Everyone agreed!
4. Andrew Jackson stated, "There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness. The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that capital I have made my way."
5. Erma Bombeck writes about some of her Mother’s words of wisdom: "Answer me! Don’t talk with food in your mouth!"
a. Erma’s words of wisdom: “Have you any idea how many children it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Three. It takes one to say, "What light?" and two more to say, "I didn’t turn it on."
b. Even though Erma approaches motherhood with a lot of humor we discover that she reflects the wisdom and insight of mothers.
6. How many have been listening to KTIS this week to here all the words of insight and wisdom that their mother’s spoke to them.
a. Have they not been inspiring!
Conclusion:
So today let’s honor and praise the godly mothers in our lives. Lets decide to give them what they want our time and our love this Mother’s Day. Let’s decide this week to make our moms job a little easier by being willing to help them out. Lets make this Mother’s Day the best ever for our moms!
Here are a few closing thoughts on a Mother’s love:
It was when I had my first child
that I understood how much
my mother loved me." (Penny’s Place)
"A Mother’s Love starts
when her children’s needs
become more important
than her own." (Penny’s Place)
"A mother’s love is like a rose.
Each passing day it grows and grows." (Penny’s Place)
"No matter where you go
or what you do, your mother will always be behind you ...
ripping her hair out." (Penny’s Place)
