FIVE WAYS TO KEEP MOM FROM RUNNING AWAY
2 Tim. 1:5
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: “$150 a Week to Talk about Mom”
1. Three Moms were bragging about their grown sons. The first one told of the extravagant birthday parties her son threw for her. “Why he even hired a band for my last birthday.”
2. The second Mom bragged how her son gave her lavish vacations; “Just last month he sent me to Hawaii for the third time!”
3. The third Mom, not to be outdone, said, “That’s nothing. My son pays a psychiatrist $150 a week, just to talk about me!”
B. NO LOVE GREATER THAN A MOTHER’S LOVE
1. One of the Chicago Tribune photos of the decade, was by Michael Fryer. It captured a grim fireman and paramedic carrying a fire victim away from the scene.
2. The blaze, which happened in Chicago, at first seemed routine. But then firefighters discovered the bodies of a mother and five children huddled in the kitchen of an apartment.
3. Fryer said the firefighters reasoned, “She could have escaped with two or three of the children, but couldn’t decide whom to pick. So she chose to wait with all of them until the firefighters arrived. All of them died of smoking inhalation.”
4. Paul talked to Timothy about his mother’s faith & love, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” 2 Tim. 1:5, ESV.
C. TITLE: “FIVE WAYS TO KEEP MOM FROM RUNNING AWAY”
1. DO MOTHERS REALLY RUN AWAY FROM HOME? Some do.
2. Others have run away in their hearts – they’ve given up trying to do their job with joy (maybe they feel unappreciated, or overwhelmed).
3. Greater pressures than ever are on mothers, since many must work jobs to shore-up the family budget.
4. Here are 5 ways a husband and children can keep Mom at home:
I. LOVE MOM AS THOUGH SHE WERE GOING TO DIE TOMORROW
A. LADY AFTER MOM’S FUNERAL
1. Dear Ann Landers: “I had a marvelous mother who loved, sacrificed for and helped me in every possible way. All my years of growing up, through college and eventually marriage, my mother was at my side. When I needed help with my little ones, she was there for me.
2. Today, we buried that marvelous woman. Can you imagine how I felt when I returned from the services and found this poem in her desk drawer?
3. ‘THE TIME IS NOW. If you are ever going to love me, love me now, while I can know the sweet and tender feelings which from true affection flow. Love me now while I am living, Don’t wait until I’m gone and then have it chiseled in marble; sweet words on ice-cold stone. If you have tender thoughts of me, please tell me now. If you wait until I’m sleeping, never to awaken, there’ll be death between us and I won’t hear you then. So, if love me, even a little bit, let me know it while I’m living, so I can treasure it.’
4. Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because I never told her what she meant to me. Worse yet, I didn’t treat her as she deserved to be treated.
5. I found time for everyone and everything, but I never made time for her. It would’ve been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug, but my friends came first. Would any of them have done for me what my mother did? I know the answer.
6. When I called mom on the phone, I was always in a hurry. I feel ashamed when I think of the times I cut her off. I remember too, the times I could have included her, but I didn’t.
7. Our children loved grandma from infancy; they turned to her for counsel and comfort. She understood them. I realize now that I was too critical, too short tempered, too stingy with praise. Grandma gave them unconditional love.
8. The world is filled with daughters like me. I hope they see themselves in this column and profit from it. It’s too late for me and I am sick with regrets – GUILTY AND HEARTBROKEN.
B. SOWING & REAPING
1. Children somehow believe mothers will live forever. It isn’t true. The way we treat our mothers is the way our children will treat us.
2. “Honor thy Mother...” is the 5th commandment, the first one dealing with human relationships.
II. TELL HER THAT YOU LOVE HER
A. FREQUENCY OF CRITICISM
1. A Mother’s job is one of the hardest in the world. She is constantly criticized, in thought, if not in word; “this house needs cleaning” or “supper is cold” or “I don’t have any clean clothes.”
2. POEM, “HER DAY”
She cooked the breakfast first of all; washed the cups & plates; Dressed the children & made sure, all their socks had mates. Combed their heads & made their beds, sent them out to play. Gathered up their motley toys & put some books away. Dusted chairs, mopped the stairs, ironed an hour or two, Baked a jar of cookies & a pie, then made a stew. The telephone rang constantly, the doorbell did the same. A youngster fell & stubbed his toe & then the laundry came. She picked up blocks & mended socks & polished-up the stove. And when her husband came at 6, he said, “I envy you – sitting at home – without a thing to do!”
B. TELL HER
1. When was the last time you told your mother you loved her? Everyone loves to be appreciated. Try it & see the wonderful results!
2. Susan Baldwin told how her mother, a master of guilt trips, sent Susan a photo with herself sitting in a chair looking at a phone that never rings. Susan told her, “Mom, I call all the time! If you had an answering machine, you’d know!”
3. Soon after, Susan’s mother got an answering machine installed. When Susan next called, the answering machine said, “If you’re a sales person, press one. If you’re a friend, press two. If you’re my daughter who never calls, press 911 because the shock will probably give me a heart attack!”
III. SHOW YOUR LOVE BY GIVING HER A GIFT
A. REAL LOVE ACTS & GIVES!
1 Jn. 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
B. FLOWERS – ARE LADIES’ FAVORITES.
It’s said that “Diamonds are a ladies’ best friend” but almost all mothers love a bouquet of flowers!
C. AND WHO DOESN’T LIKE GIFTS?
1. It’s not only children who like gifts, and husbands, but also mothers & grandmothers!
2. A mother took her 3-year-old daughter to church for the first time just before Easter. The church lights were lowered, and then the choir came down the aisle, carrying lighted candles. All was quiet until the 3-year-old started singing loudly, “Happy Birthday to you!”
3. Everyone likes parties and to receive gifts! Moms too!
IV. GIVE HER A DAY OFF!
A. EVERYONE ELSE GETS ONE!
1. Most people who work, get 2 days off a week, but Moms don’t get a day off.
2. AFTER MOM WORKS, SHE...
a. Cooks b. Chauffers
c. Washes the dishes d. Is the resident Nurse
e. Cleans the house f. Does the accounting
g. Folds clothes h. Does homework, etc.
B. ILLUSTRATION
1. A farmer’s wife became mentally deranged. As they carried her out of the house in a straitjacket, the farmer said, “I don’t know what could have affected her like this! She hasn’t even been out of the kitchen in 25 years!”
2. Mothers DO get tired. One day off will make her twice as good on the other 6 days. We can bachelor-it on TV dinners and can goods for one day. Take a day off Moms!
V. PRAY FOR HER
A. SHOW ME THE MOMMY
1. There was a reality show in South Africa is called "Show me the Mommy." On this show, an eligible bachelor would get to go out with 3 moms and choose which daughter he wanted to date, based on his opinion of the mother. Which mom would have raised the most enjoyable girl to date?
2. Moms, how would you like that opportunity-- a chance to scare off would be suitors or check out that future son-in-law first? Sounds like a chance lots of mothers would pay to have. [SOURCE: "Bodacious bachelor braves smothering mothers." By Charles de Olim, http://www.iol.co.za]
B. MOMS NEED OUR PRAYERS
Prayer will make her a better mother. Mothers do have faults & weaknesses like the rest of us. If we believe that prayer changes things, why not direct our prayers toward Mom? Prayer will help us appreciate her more, make us aware of her needs, and give us compassion for her!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE
1. The story is told how, as a boy, a young man worked long hours in a factory in Naples, Italy. He longed to be a singer. When ten years old, he took his first lesson in voice. The teacher heard him and said, “You can't sing. You haven't any voice at all. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters.”
2. The boy's mother, however, believed that he had talent to sing. She was very poor. Putting her arms around him, she encouragingly said, “My boy, I am going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons.”
3. Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid off! That boy became one of the world’s greatest singers -- Enrico Caruso!
4. Not many will become as famous as Caruso, but every one of us are given an opportunity to make something worthwhile out of our life. The important thing is not what we have or don't have, but what we do with what we have. [Dick Innes]
B. THE CALL
1. LADIES, PLEASE STAND. LET’S APPLAUD THEM. Our church needs its mothers. How can you get involved?
2. Most of you KNOW that your Mom will make it to Heaven. But are you sure about yourself? Annie Chapman wrote a song entitled, “I Dreamed I Searched Heaven for You.” It’s about a mother searching for her child who never made it. Don’t be that child!
3. God is speaking to some of you this morning to make it right with God. If that’s you, slip your hand up so we can pray for you. PRAYER.
[I think this was a Focus on the Family magazine article I adapted into sermonic format many years ago. I would be glad to give the author credit if notified.]
