Mother’s Day

13 May 2007

1. Introduction:

· Ephesians 6:2  -  “Honor your father and mother which is the first command with a promise”.

· Honor = 5091 = to place value upon, hold in place of reputation, respect and consider precious.

· Mother Among us Today:

1) Young mother – 1^st or 2^nd child, body not own, busy.

2) Mother of Teens – Children changing, separating, challenged by attitudes, indifference.

3) Working Mothers – Trying to balance work, family, home, marriage.

4) Empty nest – Children have grown up and left home, separation.

5) Fulfilled Mothers – Invested in children and home, formed memories, good connection.

6) Mothers alone – no husband, divorced, death.

7) Abandoned Mothers – Father refused responsibility.

8) Empty arms – Child miscarried, died.

9) Grieving Mothers – Children hurt by father, gone astray.

10) Grand Mothers – Enjoying the next generation, mothers of mothers.

2. God’s Purpose for Mothers:

· Genesis 5:1-2  -  “...He made him in the likeness of God; He created them male and female…”

· Likeness = 1819 = to be like, to resemble, to act like; pattern, resemblance.

· God created Adam and Eve to represent Him in the earth.

· Adam and Eve together reflect the nature and characteristics of God.

· Eve/woman reveal unique characteristics of God.

· Leviticus 19:3  -  “You shall honor you father and mother and keep my Sabbath..”

· There is a close connection between relationship with parents and a relationship with God.

· How you relate to parents, attitude and conduct impacts the relationship with God.

· Honor = respect, reverence, recognise the proper power and position of your parent and give them proper respect and honor.

· Respect and honor of parent foundational to the right relationship with God.

3.  5 Needs met by a Mother:

i)  Need for Safety:

· The world is big and dangerous to an infant.

· Safety is found in a mother – infant clings to mother, never far.

· The eyes of a child look to his/her mother.

· Mothers need to be predictable, stable, calm, danger free – without this a child is anxious.

· Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe”.

· God meets our need to be safe in life.

ii)  Nurture:

· To nurture = to feed, nourish.

· Human soul flourishes when nurtured and cared for.

· Nurture with love, touch, words, comfort.

· Without nurture the human soul withers – child feels abandoned.

· John 14:16  -  “He will give you a comforter who shall remains with you”.

iii)  Basic Trust:

· Trust is the ability to invest in relationships.

· Trust enables us to reach out to others, see others as a source of good things.

· When trust – invest self into relationship expecting good to come.

· Psalm 22:9 – “You made me trust while on my mother’s breast”.

iv) Belonging:

· Every person needs to belong to some or something bigger than self.

· Belonging and love are at the root of relationships.

· Mothers make a child feel anted, loveable, and welcome by their nurture and care.

· Ephesians 3:17 – “Rooted and grounded in love...”

v)  Someone to Love:

· Mother provides someone for the child to love, invest into.

· We are created not only to be loved but also to love.

· Proper development requires the child to express love.

· Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord with all your heart...”

4.  How can you Honor Mother:

* Words – letter, card, spoken value               * Seek her advice/talk over life

* Hugs – meaningful touch                                * Time/access to grandchildren

* Thanks – Appreciate for care/being there             * Support as grow older

* Special gift                                                         * Honor her memory

• Isaiah 49:14-16  -  “Can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the child of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you”.
• God can never forget us and never stop having compassion on us.
• When honor Mother      - honor the God she represents.

- honor the one who created us.