A Mother Holds Her Child’s Hand For A While, Their Heart Forever
1 Samuel 1:9-28 Ruth Chapters 1-2 Luke 1:36-37
On Mother’s Day this Sunday, I would like to share with you one of my favorite stories about mothers.
A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”“Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.“The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.” God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”
Again, the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language? “God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.” And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?” God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”
“Who will protect me?” God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.” But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.” God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” “You will simply call her, ‘Mom.’” ~ Original Author Unknown
There are several stories in the Bible that give us great examples of loving mothers. One such example is Hannah. Hannah had been unable to have children, so she prayed to God, that He would give her a son. If God would grant her a son, she promised to give that son to the Lord’s work. God heard her prayer and Hannah would bear a son within that same year. Hannah then prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for her first-born son, Samuel. She dedicated him to the Lord and gave him to Eli the high priest to raise in holy orders. Hannah would then have several other sons and daughters. (1Samuel 1:9-28).
The Bible also contains the story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. In this story we find a mother who will love her son’s wife as her own child. Naomi and her husband, along with their two sons go to live in Moab. After a while Naomi’s husband dies. Her two sons marry local girls and then about ten years later, they also pass away.
Naomi feels that it is time to return home to Judah. She tells her two daughters- in -laws that they should return to their own people. One does, the other, Ruth stays with Naomi. Ruth tells Naomi that her people are her people; her God is Ruth’s God. This declaration speaks volumes about how Naomi must have treated her daughter- in- laws. Ruth loved and greatly respected her mother-in-law, so she remained with her.
As the story continues Naomi and Ruth return to the town of Bethlehem. Naomi has a relative there who is quite wealthy, a major landowner and farmer by the name of Boaz. Ruth offers to glean the fields of this kinsman of Naomi so the two of them will be able to eat. Boaz notices Ruth and wants to
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help Ruth because of her kindness to Naomi. The rest of the story is the wonderful concept of redemption. Ruth is married to Boaz; she bares him a son named Obed. Obed has a son named Jesse who is the father of David. How is this redemption? Ruth was a stranger to the people of Bethlehem. She was “adopted” by her mother-in-law. From this great act of love Ruth will be part of the lineage of David who is in the lineage of Jesus. What a loving mother Naomi was to her daughter in law.
Elizabeth was the righteous and childless wife of a priest named Zacharias from the tribe of Levi. The angel Gabriel brings great news to two families. When a young Mary, a virgin, was told by Gabriel that she would conceive of the Holy Ghost a son, who would be named Jesus; the angel would certify the miracle of the virgin birth, with the miracle of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her old age. The angel states: “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible”. (Luke 1:36-37).
These two mothers, Elizabeth and Mary, would give up their sons to the greatest ministry mankind has ever known. John would announce the coming of the long-anticipated Messiah. Jesus would be that long anticipated “One” who would bring salvation unto all mankind. These mothers would give up their respective sons, to untimely deaths. And yet they would be the best mothers they could be, possibly only knowing part of what was to come in each life and yet still being the best, they could in raising these boys to manhood.
Now, let’s look at the two women who would influence a young missionary/pastor and eventually bishop of the early church. Lois and her daughter Eunice would both be instrumental in raising a young boy, Timothy, in the way of the Lord.
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in
Christ Jesus before time began”. (2 Timothy 1:5-9).
Here we read St. Paul’s charge to Timothy to remember what he has learned from the faith of his grandmother and mother. Paul is giving these two ladies great praise for what they did in raising Timothy to be a faithful young believer.
Wow, what a strong message to us today. When we look at the examples of the mothers down through the ages as depicted in the Scripture, let us bear in mind and contemplate the great work that they did in guiding their children in the faith.
As we remember our mothers on Mother’s Day let us understand that being a mother comes with a great responsibility. Mothers of all times and places in history, have been the bulwark of civilization. Because of faithful, strong, kind and loving mothers we have reason to rejoice.
Every mother is special to her children; every mother should be honored this day. The fifth of the Ten Commandments is the only one with a promise it reads: Honor thy father and thy mother and the promise is: “that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”. (Ex.20:12)
Sunday is the day we honor mothers. Let us honor and love our mothers, grandmothers, and those who are like mothers to us, not only today but throughout the year. Amen,
The Most Rev. Dr. Rick Aaron Reid, Presiding Bishop Traditional Anglican Church of America Rector, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Newton, North Carolina 28658