We have come to the fourth Sunday in Lent which is traditionally known as ‘Mothering Sunday’, the day we remember with love our mothers. We dedicate this service to them, for we will all have fond memories of our mothers, even thouh many years have passed on.
This tradition originated in
the 17th century when most of population would the attend Church, usually to the Church
at which they had been baptised. Often
whole villages, would have processions to the Church with banners, the servants
of large houses would be allowed time to attend.
In the United States,
President Woodrow Wilson passed an Act of Congress in May 1914, decreeing that
the second Sunday in May should be known as ‘Mothers Day,’ in order that love
and reverence for mothers could be shown.
Retailers and non- Church members, in this country have adopted that
title rather than the English understanding of the religious significance,
which makes it special.
This day, also gives us the
opportunity to remember Mary the MOTHER of Jesus, and think of how our Lord
honoured motherhood, even by showing concern for His mother when dying on the
Cross.
The foundation for every home,
is a father, mother (of different sexes) and children. In our time, the home
and family are under sustained attack. The
breakdown of family life is influenced and
reflected in the breakdown of the nation’s morality. It is now unrealistic to expect marriage to
be for life but rather until we get fed up with each other.
We are now no longer be
expected to use the term husband and wife, and another name for mother has been
decreed by the diversity ideolouges. Since
the time of creation, women have treasured the name ‘mother’ and was so
revered in Jewish people, that a woman who could not have a child was seen as
looked down on.
A mother’s presence in the home is essential,
and there has never been a more urgent time when good mothers are needed. I have never known a Jewish child get
involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activities, and that is due to
the control the Jewish mama has over her family.
God intended motherhood to
be of the highest calling, yet government is advocating children can be brought
up by two men, which is irresponsibility of the highest order. An American psychologist ,stated a child will
never come to full development psychologically without a mother in the
home. In an older generation, a woman
would not go to work when her children were in infancy, now we see even babies
being left in nurseries with strangers to care for them. I realise it is a different economic and
social climate, but children’s development has not changed.
When God created man, He
then created woman to be a partner, the greatest gift He could give to men, and
their nature was different so they could have children.
respected.
When God created the world,
He made man and He made woman, and gave each different characters, equal but
different, to fulfil different functions in life, and for women He gave a more
caring nature in order to be mothers. Abraham
Lincoln once remarked that no nation is greater than its mothers, for they are
the makers of men
An article in a newspaper
once said, that women were leaving Christianity for Islam because of the
greater moral code. Without denigrating
the strict Islamic moral code, it is also a fact that no religion has greater
respect for women than Christianity, and the Christian code is as moral as any,
it is just Christians do not adopt it.
The emancipation of women
began with Christianity 2000 years ago, when Mary received a message from an
angel and was told she would be the only woman ever to wear the red rose of
maternity with the white rose of virginity, and be the mother of the Saviour of
the world. When her Son grew up, He gave
women a new place in human relations, with a dignity that wherever Christianity
has gone, women have been there.
Female politicians,
especially in modern government, have tried to turn this upside down, and in
the false name of equality, have made some women to adopt the worst practices
of men. For 2000 years, women had in
many respects been superior to men, but
in the cause of equality and feminism,
have adopted the worst vices of men.
The Bible calls on older
women, who have an honoured place in society, to play a major part in guiding
younger women in the bringing up of children, from their years of experience. We must have concern for women, bringing up
children in a world where all moral values are being eroded. Theirs is a big responsibility, especially
when the nation’s broadcasting system gives out such foul talk ,and explicit
scenes that cause weaker minds to think that is the natural way of life.
,We need women who will lead
their families back, to more old style morality decency and purity. Children are being brought up without any religious
knowledge, knowing nothing about Jesus or Biblical characters, even in the
homes of whatever class of home. An
idealism prevails as to how children should behave, but it is often a source of
admiration and being in modern
phraseology ‘cool’ for a child to be sexually aware. Schools play little part in educating
children in religion, or conduct unless the school is a private one.
Spiritual matters should be
of concern to mothers. Promises are made
at baptism services, that children will be brought up in the fellowship of the
Church, although few have ever any intention of honouring the promises
made. When my two sons were growing up,
my then occupation required me to be away from the home for many long hours,
and so much care fell upon my wife. It
is to her credit that they both entered the Christian ministry, after being
youth leaders at their local Church.
Today they are successful Vicars at Churches of their own, where they
have been a powerful influence in the Churches they have served.
I would encourage every
mother to teach their children the stories of Jesus, and other stories from the
Bible, it will give them a sure foundation for life. To bear a child is a costly and sometimes
very painful act, calling for endurance sometimes beyond the mother
herself. Mothering Sunday calls on us to
remember it is the giving of oneself.
Mothers continue to care and
worry for their children even when they reach adulthood. We have numerous examples of godly mothers in
the Bible, as an example for us to follow such as the mother of James and John
who sought favour for them from Jesus, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth Salome,
and of course above all, Mary the mother of Jesus.
Women have been asked on
radio and television what their occupation was , and have replied, ‘only a
housewife and mother’. There is nothing
to justify the word ‘only’, such is one of the most honourable and worthy occupations.
May God richly bless all mothers.
But, do not let us forget
there are mothers who are not appreciated and whose children have made life difficult.
We must also remember the
many women who will not be mothers. For some it will be a choice not to have
children, for their own personal reasons, and we must not forget or criticise.
W should on this most happy day for mothers, we must offer prayers for those who cannot physically have children,
and ask that God in His mercy and grace will answer their desires.
The Bible gives examples of women
who displayed utter devotion to the children
they bore, and who became such great names in Jewish history. For those who
have not been told or who have forgotten, I give a brief story of three loving
devoted MOTHERS
The MOTHER of Moses, is a wonderful
and emotional story, that is still being told after thousands of years, and
would be dishonoured if the language of these modern misguided people would be changed,
to ‘birth parent’ . There was a death sentence on all male Jewish children born,
so His MOTHER had
to
hide him, then place him in a basket and
leave him in a stream, with the hope of someone not Jewish, who would find and care for him. A princess did so, and took
him to her home. The loving MOTHER acted as a Carer, and raised him without the love of knowing who she really
was.(Exodus 2.
Hannah
was a woman tormented, because she could not bear being unable to have a child,
and thereby feeling disgraced. She prayed fervently to God, and was granted a
son named Samuel.
The Lord Jesus dying in
agony on the Cross, called for the Apostle John to look after and care for his
MOTHER
(John 19v26)
I have referred to three
MOTHERS of the Bible who faced terrible situations in caring for their. I would
be pleased to think that mothers and children will read the full children stories
of their problems in the Bible.
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