We all hold a special place in our heart for our mothers.  Each mother is unique in her own way.  God has placed each mother in a home of his choosing.  Therefore we are all in the family “fitly joined together” for His purpose.  In Ephesians 4:16 we learn how God joins together the body of Christ.  I am sure it can also apply to families.   Let’s take a look at what we can learn from just a few mothers in the Bible.

EVE:  The first mother.  In Genesis 4:1 tells us that Eve recognized that it was “with the help of the Lord” that she brought forth her child.  All mothers know that we need the help of God Almighty to give birth and raise our children in the love and admonition of the Lord.

Hannah: From Hannah we learn persistence.  First Samuel 1:7 tells us that “year after year she went to the house of the Lord”.   Each mother knows that we must be persistent, day after day, year after year, in raising our children.  We must be persistent in teaching, persistent in discipline, and persistent in loving them.  We cannot allow difficulties to distract us from raising them to be men and women of God.

Mary, the mother of Jesus:  In Luke 1:28 we are reminded that Mary was “highly favored by God”.  She was not afraid to trust God, and submitting to the plan that God had for her, she brought forth the Savior.  As mothers we learn to pray for our children so they will fulfill and complete the plan of God in their lives.  We learn to submit to God and not be afraid even when we don’t quite understand all He has called them to do and how He is working it out.

Eunice:  We learn that the faith that Timothy had came from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.  (2 Timothy 1:5)  We must realize that mothers leave us a legacy.  As mothers ourselves, we need to decide what kind of legacy we want, to encourage and help nurture in our children; knowing that this exhibit of faith in God continues throughout our lifetime and in future generations.

Even after our children are grown we still have the responsibility to pray for them and to help them be all they can be.  My prayer for you (and myself) and for all the future mothers reading this message is for all of us to take lessons from the women mentioned above:

Like Eve, we will always recognize that it is God who helps us.

Like Hannah, we will be persistent in teaching and living the Word of God before our families.

Like Mary the mother of Jesus, we will trust God to bring His purpose and plans to completions in the lives of our children.

Like Eunice, we will leave a legacy of the love of God for our children and others to follow.

Have a very Happy Mother’s Day.