• 1868 (Ann Jarvis created a committee to establish ‘Mother’s Friendship Day’)
• 1870 Julia Howe wrote the first Mother’s Day proclamation asking women everywhere to join for world peace
• 1908 modern holiday of Mother’s Day was celebrated when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia.
• 1914 a proclamation to recognized Mother’s Day was signed by Woodrow Wilson
• 1920s, Hallmark Cards and other companies had started selling Mother’s Day cards.
• By this time, carnations had become associated with Mother’s Day

Some form of Mother Days is celebrated throughout the world on different days.

What is the one important thing you remember about your mother.

We find the word mother is used in 298 verses in the Scriptures

We know being a mom is not easy.  It is very appropriate and right to pause and say ”Thank You” to our mothers, or individuals who were like mothers to us, and to honor them, and thank God for them.  We realize what they had to do and how to put up with us, as we grew up.

I know that Mother’s Day can be a very difficult day for some of us. For lots of different reasons. Charlene mother and my mother are no longer alive, and we still miss them.  Many times I wish I could talk with her and do things for her that I was supposed to do.  And others who were like a mother to me, my Aunts.

What is the most used verses about mothers?

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.   {niv left off the last part}

Exodus 21:15 “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

Exodus 21:17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

If we do honor our mothers, we may live long life.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  (5)  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  (6)  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  (7)  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 27:16  “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Remember, a woman may not have physical children, but she may be like a mother to many individuals around her and maybe to her niece and nephew.  The prophet and judge Deborah was a mother in Israel and a mother to Israel. 

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 

Luke 2:51 Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart.

Do you know who Jochebed is, mention in the Faith Chapter.

Numbers 26:59 Amram’s wife was Levi’s daughter Jochebed, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

Hebrews 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.  We know what she did with Moses.

She provides a beautiful portrait of a mother with faith

Judges 5:7 Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. 

Romans 16:13  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.  {Paul had someone who like a mother to him} 

Titus 2:3-4 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  (4)  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children   {teach the younger women}

Apostle Paul adds

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  (2)  “Honor your father and mother“—which is the first commandment with a promise,  (3)  “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  {commandment with promise}

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  {Timothy was raise and taught by his grandmother and mother}

First mother and others mentioned in the Bible

We learn when we went through the Sacrifices, mothers were very important in the birth of their children.  The offerings following childbirth as described in Leviticus { Leviticus 12:4-8}, and about Jesus {Luke 2:21-24}

Genesis 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

Genesis 17:16 I will bless her {Sarah} and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

Genesis 24:53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.  {brother Laban}

Genesis 24:55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.”

Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.”

Genesis 25:21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. {Rebekah waited 20 years}

God places children in families and by grace, give an barren woman a child.  Rebekah was a good example. 

Psalms 113:9 He makes the barren woman among her household a happy mother of joyful children. Hallelujah!

When a child is born, they are happy and joyful.  Depends on their upbringing and environment how they turn out, 

What are our mothers all about? 

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 

What can we do as children to our mothers, good or bad

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 20:20  If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 23:22  Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Leviticus 18:7 “‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

Leviticus 19:3 “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.  {Interesting}

Leviticus 20:9  “‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.

Christian mother’s responsibility is difficult to balance the natural instinct to protect her children from harm and in equipping and training her children for life as an adult.  Mother is to train her children to live godly lives

Psalms 78:5-6 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,  (6)  so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Being a mother is not an easy task

Even if the child rejects everything to do with God. It’s comforting to know that Jesus also struggled with rebellious children {Israel rebellion}.

Mothers need to remember that the purpose of mothering is to develop a strong, independent adult

Genesis 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Even if that adult child resides close by, the mother must allow her children the freedom to live as an adult, taking his mother’s wisdom into account but still making their own decisions, even decisions she doesn’t understand or agree.  This is so hard.  Just be there if they want to talk.   Jesus even had this problem. 

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”  (27)  and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

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.

She is trustworthy and devoted. She has her husband’s confidence, and she enhances his reputation.

Verses 13 – 19. She’s not afraid to work, she’s a wise shopper, and she plans ahead.

(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 night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.

(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 {women’s concerns} and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

(20)  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

She is a giving person and extends her hand to the poor and has planned ahead well enough to be able to not only take care of the family’s needs, but also the needs of the poor in her society.

(21)  When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.    She is dependable

(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.  {looks like the woman does all the work}

(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.  {Most important}

(31)  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

All I can say, life is too short and I wish I could contact my mother, just not on Mother Day, but on every day of the year. 

Yes, I know, I will see my mother and father and family in the future after we are changed. 

It will be a great celebration, just like we had as I was growing up.  

Have a good and enjoyable Mother’s Day with your children

God is good, all the time.