Mother’s Day – A Blessing From God

Sermon Title: Mother’s Day: A Blessing From God

Good News Statement: God provides us with Mothers and Mother-like Figures

Preached: Sunday, May 12, 2024, at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Proverbs 31:10-31 – Today’s scripture highlights the unbelievable and miraculous qualities and strengths of the Mother’s and Mother-like figures in our life: those individuals that always find a way to go above and beyond and to put others before themselves.

Ode to a Woman of Strength

¹⁰ A woman of strength who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not harm  all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from far away.
¹⁵ She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her  female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.
²² She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband, too, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

In a recent article published by Town & Country Magazine on February 28^th of this year (2024), Leah Silverman, the author, begins her article by encouraging its readers to honor Mother’s Day as a day to show all those important “ladies our appreciation.” Silverman states, “Being a mom is a tough job—the care and attention they give, the worrying that keeps them up at night, all of the little details they keep track of to make their family’s lives run smoothly. And while we all try to give the moms in our lives—be their our own mother, the mothers of our children, or the friends who have achieved honorary mom status—their justly earned accolades, the truth is that all too often they don’t get enough credit. That’s part of what makes Mother’s Day such a special event: a day to show those all-important ladies our appreciation.”

Today is Mother’s Day, a day of appreciation for all the mothers and mother-like figures in our life. Today is Mother’s Day, a day signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. Today is Mother’s Day, a day when families pay special tribute to their moms in various ways. We take them out to dinner, buy them special gifts, present them with flowers, and maybe do the dishes, cook a meal, do the laundry, help with the cleaning, and let them take a quick a nap before we need them because we can’t figure out how to pre-heat the oven for the dessert that they made the night before. Today is Mother’s Day, the day when we give our mother’s and mother-like figures our love, show our deepest appreciation for what they do day in and day out, and realize that they are God’s gift to us to teach us, to direct us, to help us, to be a living and breathing source of God’s eternal love in our life.

Here are some facts about Mothers. According to Haba.com, “There are roughly 82.5 million mothers in the United States, more than 2 billion worldwide, and the average Mom will have changed approximately 7,300 diapers by the time her baby reaches the age of two!” Speaking of babies, according to Town and Country Magazine, “The moniker or name ‘Mom’ comes from babies. The first thing most babies can vocalize is the ‘ma’ sound, which is why in almost every language the word for mother begins with the letter ‘M’…” Furthermore, this magazine shared in a recent article focusing on Mothers, “Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world. In 2023, over $35 Billion was spent on Mother’s Day. More calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year: approximately 122 million calls are made on Mother’s Day.” Lastly,  the sound of a mother’s voice lowers a child’s stress hormone and raises their level of oxytocin, a hormone linked with love and bonding.

Although these facts are interesting, there is no factual statistic that can amount to what we cherish and remember about our own Mother. When you think about your mother or the mother-like figures in your life, what do you think about? Do you think about all the diapers they have changed, all the chores they somehow accomplished before you even got up in the morning, the lessons they taught you, the stories they shared, the comfort of their voice, the warm embrace of their hugs, or even the love that never goes away? What comes to mind when you think about your mother? What about your mother has helped you become the person you are today? These question are what King Solomon, the author of three thousand proverbs and a thousand and five songs (1 Kings 4:32) and the author of our text pondered as he sought to come up with a definition, maybe an image, of what God had in mind when He created a mother. Over time, King Solomon found himself asking, “What is a mother?” And that is the question we are going to ponder today as we think about the mothers and mother-like figures in our life.

Body:

In March of 1999, I received a book titled I Love You Stinky Face from my mom, written by Lisa McCourt. In this book a young boy seeks to know how much his mom loves him. He asks, “Mama, what if I were a big, scary ape? Would you still love me then?” and the mother responds, “I love you, my big, scary ape.” Not quite sure, the boy asks, “But Mama, what if I were a supper smelly skunk, and I smelled so bad that my name was stinky face?” and the mother responds, “I love you, Stinky Face.” Then the boy talks about being an alligator, a dinosaur, a swamp monster, a green alien, and finally a Cyclops. And each time, the mother responds with, “I love you.” It didn’t matter what her son wanted to be, she was going to love him no matter what.

This type of love is seen through King Solomon’s description of a mother: a love that is strong, faithful, committed, and “endures, hopes, and believes in all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8); a  love that is not scared of anything, but cherishes what needs to be loved. As a matter of fact, in the Bible, we read about a mother’s love through the actions of some mothers. A mother’s love is unfailing (Isaiah 66:13), a mother’s strong faith leads to courageous love (Exodus 2:1-4), a mother is a pillar of strength (Proverbs 31:25), and a mother upholds her family through her willingness to pray (1 Samuel 1:27; James 5:16). Additionally, a mother demonstrates faith and obedience through her love (Luke 1:38), a mother is a source of guidance (2 Timothy 1:5), and a mother embraces the reality that she is to go where she is needed (Matthew 28:16-20). Furthermore, a mother is composed of wisdom (Proverbs 1:8-9), a mother is a beacon of hope, perseverance, and resilience (Hebrews 11:11), a mother’s love is compassionate (Colossians 3:12), and a mother’s role in our life shapes our character and virtue (Titus 2:3-5). Lastly, a mother’s love is an instrument of grace (Ephesians 4:32), a mother demonstrates purpose and God’s gifts (Proverbs 22:6), and a mother is one who reflects the means and way of Christ in all that she does (2 Corinthians 5:20). Biblically, the love of a mother is seen not only in what she does but also in who she is. We see this through scripture.

Through King Solomon’s description of a mother, we get a glimpse of how a mother’s love is seen through her actions and dedication to the ones that she endures and loves, much like our own mothers. From King Solomon’s description of a mother, we then see how other mothers in the Bible fulfill the concept of “excelling all others.” And finally, we learn that a mother is one who deserves our praise.

Movement One: King Solomon’s Description of a Mother[1]

At the very start of Proverbs 31, we get a glimpse of a mother who wants nothing more than to provide for her son, King Lemuel. Proverbs 31:1 states, “The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him.” For starters, there isn’t much information pertaining to this King Lemuel figure. As a matter of fact, there is no King Lemuel mentioned in the history of Israel, which is why some have come to believe that King Lemuel is a pet name, a nickname, given to King Solomon by his mother, Sheba, as in Bathsheba—the wife of Uriah the Hittite and the one who King David spots bathing as he was walking upon his rooftop (2 Samuel 11:2). King Solomon’s mother pulls him aside and provides him with an oracle—a divine utterance, a prayer, something that has been weighing upon her shoulders—in which can bring respect to all women. I’m sure throughout your lifetime, you can remember something in which your mother told you that changed your life, that helped you see the world through her eyes. Sheba offers nine key elements to King Solomon or King Lemuel that we should take to heart on this Mother’s Day because they help us see the world through their eyes.[2]

Sheba begins her lesson by talking about worth. Proverbs 31:10-11 states, “A woman of strength who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.” According to the Message Bible, a mother is worth more than “diamonds” (Proverbs 31:10).[3] A mother is not equal to a diamond or valued just a little more than a diamond, but is far more precious than a diamond or jewel. A mother’s value is priceless. A mother is worth more than any precious jewel because she is virtuous and trustworthy: her heart is of those whom she loves and trusts. The heart is where a mother’s guidance and strength lies; and what is in her heart is more valuable than anything on this earth. A mother’s heart is something we treasure on this earth because it is something we need to be able to face tomorrow and become who we need to be in this world.

After talking about a mother’s worth and value and trust, King Solomon turns to the work of a fearless mother in Proverbs 31:12-24 and offers us nine different traits. Number one, a mother’s motive and heart. Verse 12 says, “She does him good and no harm all the days of her life.” A mother strives to do good not just one day of the week or when she feels like it, but every day of her life. She strives to be led by the footsteps of love and faith and hope, and sometimes finds a way to see in the dark. I don’t know about you, but it’s tough to always do good. I could be sitting on the couch, not around anyone, and still be blamed for something. I could be put on trial because the power went out during a storm and it’s my fault for not being able to control the weather. Even when we think we are doing good, we might be causing harm. But a mother, even when we disagree with her and talk a back to her and claim that we know more than she does, is only trying to do good so that we too can walk in the footsteps of love.

Number two, a mother is a hard-worker and has measure. Verses 13-15 note, “She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her female servants.” In verse 24, we read, “She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with clothing.” A mother is a hard-worker. I can’t even begin to count all the projects that my mom helped me with during school, all the trips to school because I forgot something at home, and all the late nights baking something for a school party the next day. In addition to all those things, she found time to make meals, do laundry, wash dishes, clean the house, plant a garden, attend every sporting event, listen to every choir or band concert, and still work a 40-hour job. Even when it seemed like her work was done, there was something else that she sought to do for someone else. A mother goes above and beyond because she loves who God has put in her life, and through her work she provided not only food, but provided a comforting presence. A mother is a hard worker, going above and beyond for those whom she loves. In a way, a mother, just like Jesus, seeks “to serve instead of being served” (Mark 10:45).

Number three, a mother does what she can to provide for tomorrow through her management: “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard” (Proverbs 31:16). What a mother does today impacts and effects tomorrow. What a mother plants, grows into something beautiful tomorrow. A mother considers the work of the present and prays that what she does today will be a remembered, used, cherished, and passed on to future generations. A mother is one who provides and produces fruit for those around her. She not only thinks about today, but considers tomorrow.

Number four, a mother is strong. Proverbs 31:17 reminds us, “She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” A mother is willing to get the job done, to roll up her sleeves, to be the next image for a “Rosie the Riveter” poster. My mother is just like my grandma: she loves being able to do something. She mows, she plants flowers and works in the garden, she enjoys cleaning the garage, she likes organizing the attic, and the list could go on. My point is, a mother is willing to do some work and she is strong in what she does. A mother is strong on multiple levels: she may be physically strong, emotionally strong, mentally strong, or even spiritually strong. No matter where her strength lies, she will always be strong for those that she loves because she knows her strength can mend a broken heart.

Number five, a mother is full of ministry. Proverbs 31:18-20 tells us, “She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Not only is she hard-working, but she has enough will to carry out a ministry that exemplifies the works of God and the words of Jesus Christ. She burns the candle at both ends to get the job done, she lends a hand, and she doesn’t neglect the needy but receives them with an open hand. A mother is a true example of the ministry of God: again seeking to serve and not to be served. Just think about all the times she lent you a hand and didn’t ask for anything in return. A mother’s ministry is her will to put her love in action: to love those in her life the way she loves herself.

Number six lists a mother’s preparedness: “She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson” (Proverbs 31:21). A mother prepares for the unknown, she over packs, she considers the outcome of every situation. A mother is prepared for the snow, the rain, the heat, the cold, the smiles, the laughter, the scrapes, the bruises, the tears, and the sorrow. Her household is clothed with protection, the finest protection. Simply put, a mother is prepared for life. Even when we are or were unprepared, it also seemed like they were prepared. I can’t tell you how many times I forgot something or needed something, and my mom had what I was missing and had what I needed, and she didn’t even ask why or what. A mother’s preparedness gets us through life.

Number seven, a mother is modest. King Solomon recalls, “She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple” (Proverbs 31:22).[4] King Solomon is not talking about being wealthy financially like the Rich Man from Mark 10 by referencing the clothing of royalty—fine linen and purple in color. Rather, King Solomon is simply implying that a mother treats all her belongings as important and significant. While doing so she is modest: she doesn’t boast about things, doesn’t try to outdo her neighbor, and certainly doesn’t seek to be put on a pedestal. She doesn’t boast about herself, but gives praise in those whom she loves. She would rather give than receive. A mother is modest.

Number eight, a mother has and is a model. After talking about working hard and giving, we read that a mother has a model, a role model.  “Her husband is known in the city gates,” states King Solomon, “taking his seat among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23). This woman’s husband is a respected elder in the city, and he lives in such a way that her husband is supported in that position and not derailed in it by her actions. Essentially, a mother is a model for what it means and looks like to be uplifting: someone who is going to be there for you no matter the situation, no matter the outcome, no matter the frustration and stress, and no matter the risk it takes to get you to become who she knows you can become. A mother uplifts you and is a model for what that looks like day-in-and-day-out.

Finally, number nine, a mother is filled with wisdom. Proverbs 31:25-27 asserts, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Again a mother is clothed in strength, and her dignity, her respect, is what gives her the teachings and wisdom we need to hear. It may not be something we want to hear, but it is something that we need to hear. A mother is filled with joy and laughter. It’s okay for a mother to laugh, to enjoy life, to take a minute for herself!  A mother is filled with wisdom. I don’t know how being sent to my room was a form of wisdom, but I’m sure there was wisdom in her form of punishment. From her wisdom, a mother is a teacher of kindness, always doing good not harm, always willing to offer a hug and not walking away, and always right there to pick us up when we fall. And a mother finds ways to put others first: she gives the bread to her household, to her family, before she serves herself.

A mother has worth. A mother demonstrates goodness and trust. A mother is hard-working. A mother takes time to plan things out. A mother has been given this divine strength to care for others. A mother is willing to do the ministry of the Lord, opening her hand to all people. A mother offers protection and preparedness. A mother is supportive. A mother is filled with wisdom, teachings, and love. A mother is all these things and so much more because she is a gift, a blessing, given to us by God. We see several examples of this kind of mother in the Bible.

Movement Two: Famous Mother’s In the Bible

Throughout the Bible we encounter some pretty famous mothers that demonstrate, or at least help us to understand, how King Solomon describes what a mother is and does.

Jochebed: A Levite woman, Jochebed, gave birth to a son and hid him for 3 months because of what Pharaoh proclaimed in Exodus 1: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” Exodus 2 tells us that when she could hide him no longer, she coated a papyrus basket with tar and pitch, placed the baby in it, then she set it in the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Jochebed was determined to find a way to save her son, who was named Moses, and God blessed her plan. Not only was her son saved from death, she was able to nurse and raise him until he was old enough to go live with Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses mother loved him so much that she gave him away to live a better life.

Naomi: Naomi and her family fled to the country of Moab because of a famine in their land. Her husband died, and her two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. After 10 years both of Naomi’s sons passed away, and Naomi heard that the LORD had blessed the land of her people with food again. She told her daughters-in-law that they could return home to find new husbands. Although they both wept at her leaving, one refused to leave Naomi’s side. Orpah returned to her people and her gods, but Ruth stayed. Ruth was already learning from Naomi’s faith even during a time of bitterness. Naomi continued to watch out for Ruth and instruct her wisely in her dealings with Boaz, who became her kinsman redeemer. Naomi, a mother of faith and commitment, shared her faith to protect Ruth and to give her life that she deserved.

Elizabeth: Elizabeth was married to a priest named Zechariah, and Luke 1 tells us that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were righteous before God, observing all of His commands. But Elizabeth was childless, and they were both old in age. Similar to people in Job’s day, people would have thought that sin prevented Elizabeth from bearing a child. This would have been very hard to face, especially being a wife of a priest. When Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, approached him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:13-14).  Just like Elizabeth, mothers are committed to believing in the unknown, to having faith in the impossible because it is in those moments that they learn to be the mother that God needs them to be: faithful, committed, and remaining in the trust of God. Mothers find ways to be faithful, but even mothers still need to be comforted.

Mary: Perhaps no more famous mother exists than Mary, who at a young age learned from an angel that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Her song of praise, in response to the well-known events of Christ’s birth, is what usually spring to mind when we think of Mary. But her role as mother brought her grief as well as joy; we can only imagine what it must have been like for her to witness Jesus’ crucifixion. Mary believed God would fulfill His promise. She never gave up on that promise. Mary, like so many mothers, lived a life of joy and sorrow; and through those moments we learn that a mother needs us just as much as we need them.

Jochebed, Naomi, Elizabeth, and Mary are just a few of the inspiring mothers found throughout scripture. Through these mothers though, we see King Solomon’s words in action. We see mothers who were caring, who took risks to protect their children, who shared their faith and saved lives, who trusted in God, who witnessed the impossible become the possible, and who never gave up on the ones who God placed in their life. We see mothers who were hard working, we made provisional plans for the future, who saw the situation at hand and made it work in their life, who demonstrated great strength in the face of adversity and devastation, and who considered the present and thought about tomorrow. We see mothers who demonstrated a deep love for those who they loved. Through the Bible we witness example upon example of what a mother does and who a mother is, and it’s through the words of King Solomon that a mother comes to life. We see a mother that “surpasses them all.”

Conclusion:

The Thirty-First Chapter of the Book of Proverbs closes with these words from verses 28-31, “Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband, too, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all….”

When I think about my mom, not only do the acts of Jochebed, Naomi, Elizabeth, and Mary come to mind, but I think about someone who surpasses them all, who I call happy. I think about the many adventures we’ve taken, the places we’ve gone, the things we’ve done, the many trips to get ice cream, the words of wisdom she has shared with me, the tears that we have seen on each other’s face, the teachings that have changed my life, the funny expressions that come across her face when she gets mad, and the random thoughts that have caused us to say “What? Really?” I also think about the love that she has given me for the past twenty-eight years—a love that can never be taken away, a sacrificial and faithful love. I also remember all the hugs that brought a smile to my face, the many “I love yous” that have been shared over the phone and cards, the support that she continues to give me today, and the many pictures that rest in my memory.

When I think about my mother, I think of someone who King Solomon describes, but I also think of someone who is much more than these things. My mother, probably like many of your mom’s, is indescribable: it’s hard to put words to someone who is perfect and a gift given to us by God. King Solomon provides us with nine characteristics that describe a mother, but we know there are many, many, many more! The Bible grants us with example upon example of God’s faithful mothers, but we know there is more because we have one in our life today.

The Message Bible states in verse 31, “Give her everything she deserves! Adorn her life with praises!” Today is Mother’s Day, a day that we recognize all the mothers and mother-like figures in our life who deserve our love and appreciation, and who certainly deserve our praises today and every day. When you think about your mother, what do you think about? What do you remember? How will you show your appreciation for the mothers in your life? And I bet, whether a dinosaur, alligator, Cyclops, or stinky skunk, she will love you no matter what and that is the best gift we can ever receive. Happy Mother’s Day to all the women! Let it be so.

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for our mother and all the mother-like figures in our life. Thank you for their love, their support, their care, their comfort, and their strength. O Lord, help us to show our appreciation to the mothers in our life, not just today but every day. Each and every mother is a gift, a blessing, from you, O Lord, so help us to receive this gift as we praise them and love them with the love that they so deserve. All honor and glory is yours now and forever, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Author Lisa McCourt ends her book this way: the boy says, “I love you, mama.” And the mother replies, “And I love you, my wonderful child.” May all the mothers and women today and every day be blessed with a love that warms their heart, makes them smile, and reminds them of how important they are. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go, living and experiencing the love of a mother. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] In Proverbs 31, we begin to see what makes up a godly mom. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “That no man is poor who had a godly mother.” Because of my mother, I feel as if I am the riches person alive, not poor: I have been given all that I need to succeed and become the person that I am meant to be. Additionally, because of my mother, whenever she comes to visit, my pantry is usually restocked with animal crackers and potato chips and peanut butter. Because of my mother, I have more than I need; I have everything and more.

[2] Proverbs 31:10-31 is laid out in a similar fashion to Psalms 119: it is a Hebrew acrostic poem.  Each line begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For example, if we think of the word “Mother,” we could write “Magical, Outstanding beauty, Tremendous teacher, Helpful, Extraordinary, Reliable and Rich with love.” Each letter from the word “Mother” represents what a mother is. Kings Solomon’s mother is teaching her son in this way so that he can remember what she is telling him. It has been scientifically proven that people remember things better when it rhymes, when it appears in song, and when it relates to a form of poetry.

[3] Ruth in Chapter Three of The book of Ruth is noted as a virtuous woman by Boaz because of what she was willing to do to protect her family.

[4] 1 Peter 3:3-4, “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.”