In Praise of Mothers

In God’s economy, mothers hold a very special and significant place within society in general, and the family in particular. No wonder the god of this world, has sought to malign and denigrate, this God given, and noble position of motherhood. For a very long time, it would seem that becoming a mother, was the kiss of death to career and personal ambition. However, in recent times, in celebrity world, it has become fashionable to have a baby late on in life, almost like a designer accessory. But giving birth is one thing, being a mother is another, and being a Godly mother is whole other story indeed. Others are very influential in the lives of their children.

Here is what a few famous people had to say about theirs.

The Will of Henry Heinz - When the will of Henry J. Heinz, wealthy distributor of the famous “57 Varieties” line was read, it was found to contain the following confession:“Looking forward to the time when my earthly career will end. I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ. This legacy was left me by my consecrated mother, a woman of strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained.”

Thomas Edison’s tribute to his mother - “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never have likely become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of a different mental calibre, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness, were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing to me.”‘

Give me a generation of Christian mothers, and I will undertake to change the whole face of society in twelve months.’ – Lord Shaftesbury

I love this story of a young boy buying a gift for his mum. ‘A small boy went into the lingerie section of a big department store and shyly presented his problem to the sales lady. “I want to buy my mum a present of a slip,” he said, “but I don’t know what size she wears.” The assistant said, “It would help to know if your mum is short or tall, fat or skinny.” “She’s just perfect,” beamed the little boy, so the lady wrapped up a size thirty-four for him.  Two days later Mum came to the store herself and changed it to a size fifty-two.  In his eyes mum was just perfect. 

Why don’t you check out some of the Godly mothers in the Bible?

Jochebed – Mother of Moses.   A woman of faith. Hebrews 11:23, Exodus 2

Hannah – Mother of Samuel.   A woman of prayer. 1 Samuel Ch.1

Eunice – Mother of Timothy.  A woman of the Word. Acts 16:1-2, 2 Timothy 1:5 & 3:14-15 

Mary – Mother of Jesus.  A woman of obedience and sacrifice. Luke 1:26-38, 2:5-7 

Sarah – Mother of Isaac.  A woman of spiritual beauty. Genesis 12:11, 1 Peter 3:3-4

The Virtuous woman - Proverbs 31  

- Pastor David Goudy