Mother May I

Growing up we used to play a game, Mother, May I. The child would all gather in our back yard, and one of them would be the mother. Then, the mother would go the over end of the a back yard, and the child playing mother would go the other end. And then we would each ask, in turn, mother may I take one step, two steps or what ever. The child would say yes or no. We all wanted to be the Mother, because you had the power to say yes or no. We never what it really means to be a mother.

Greg Laurie tells about a new reality show .

Greg Laurie Sermon Archive Mother’s Day

There is going to be a new reality TV program this fall. Here is the premise of the program. Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and four kids each for six weeks. There are a lot of other things added to this. Each kid plays two sports and either takes music or dance lessons. There is no access to fast food. Each man must take care of his four kids. He has to do that before, during or after his full or part time job. He also to keep his assigned house clean. He has to correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, etc. These men have access to one television and it is only on when the kids are asleep. There is no remote control. The men must shave their legs. They must put on their makeup either while driving or cooking breakfast for the kids. They have to make four lunches and exercise to keep their spouse pleased. The kids vote them off the island based on performance. Once a winner is picked he can play the game over and over again for the next 18 to 25 years eventually earning the right to be called mother.

WE DEPEND ON MOTHERS FOR A LOT, DON’T WE.

Mom, you lay our Spiritual Foundation.

Mom, you lay our Spiritual Foundation.

Proverbs 6:20 NASB95

My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

The wisest man in the world, Solomon wrote these words or instruction to future generations. He said, we are to observe, to watch, guard, and keep, the commandments of our fathers. He also said, do not forsake the teaching of your mothers.

The idea there is do not leave, forsake,reject or cast off your mother’s teaching or advise or law.

2 Timothy 1:5–7 NASB95

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Why, because advise properly given helps to shape you for life. Listen to more advise from Solomon.

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The word train. Hanaka which here is translated train, comes from the practice of the midwife who would rub the palate of a new-born child with oil to get them to begin sucking. It is idea of training but with sugar, not a stick.

I am reminded of a woman I read about in John Wesley’s journals. Let me share the story with you.

Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, had 19 children. She did not have a bathroom with a door that locked, but she did have a large apron and when she wanted seclusion and privacy, she went to a corner, pulled the apron over her head and her children understood, “This is Mom’s time now, to be by herself.”

The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, Volumes 1–8 The Voyage

To-day I spoke closely on the head of religion to one, [Mrs. Hawkins,] I had talked with once or twice before. [She listened with great attention, and answered readily to all the questions I proposed, and afterwards said, with many tears, ‘My mother died when I was but ten years old. Some of her last words were, “Child, fear God; and though you lose me, you shall never want a friend.” I have now found a friend when I most wanted and least expected one.’

Mom, you provide us with an Example.

Proverbs 31”

Proverbs 31:17 NASB95

She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

Mom not only showed us strength. She also taught us how to go with the flow. Christen Gowan, from Greenfield Center, New York, said in Real Simple magazine this week, “Before mother I scheduled out my whole life and everything needed to go according to plan. After experiencing so many debacles, especially when traveling with my two little girls, I’ve leaner to just embrace the chaos. There’s no need to get upset if one of my well laid plans goes awry.

Have many trips to the grandparents, turned into mission impossible. The cute outfit you put your darlings in arrive chocolate smeared, and cover in cheese-curl dust. You know that yellow dust get on your fingers and you have to lick it to get it off. That when mom taught us to let go of well laid plans, and as Christen said, “Embrace the chaos.”

Mom, you care for the Needy

Proverbs 31:20 NASB95

She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:

My mom was always ready to the help the needy. She taught me, by example, to always be ready to help.

Ginny pointed out to me yesterday an article in the newspaper called, Honoring my mother on Mother’s day..

In the article Linda Moody told stories about her mom. In one of them she said, “I remember when she (her mother) took our Grandma Phoebe in and cared for her, and when our cousins’ mother and her husband were injured (he fatally, in a train crash), she (mom) brought their children into our home for a short while.

She, like my mom, was an example of caring for people who needed help. My mom was always willing to offer a helping hand. In fact, the way I met Ginny was because of one of mom’s act of kindness.

Ginny and kids moved in beside my mom. Ginny did not have her phone turned on yet, and mom offered for her to use our phone.

Ginny was calling her best friend from our home when I came home for an unexpected visit. The rest is history. But for mom’s act of kindness, helping someone in need, I would have never met the love of my life.

We owe our mother’s a lot. They formed us spiritually, They taught us how to go with the flow, and the were an example to us about caring for people who need help.

I love what Charles Wesley wrote about his mother at her death:

The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Volume 5 CLXXV. Epitaph on Mrs. Susanna Wesley

EPITAPH ON MRS. SUSANNA WESLEY

1 IN sure and steadfast hope to rise,

And claim her mansion in the skies,

A Christian here her flesh laid down,

The cross exchanging for the crown.

2 True daughter of affliction she,

Inured to pain and misery,

Mourn’d a long night of griefs and fears,

A legal night of seventy years.

3 The Father then reveal’d His Son,

Him in the broken bread made known,

She knew, and felt her sins forgiven,

And found the earnest of her heaven.

4 Meet for the fellowship above,

She heard the call, “Arise, My love:”

“I come,” her dying looks replied,

And lamb-like as her Lord she died!

I would like to close with this story that I think sums it all up.

Then there’s this story, which has been circulating on the Internet:

A few months ago I ran into my friend Emily, who was fuming with indignation. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her drivers’ license at the County Clerk’s office. Asked by the female recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to identify herself.

“What I mean is,” explained the clerk, “do you have a job, or are you just a . . .”

“Of course I have a job,” Emily snapped. “I’m a mother.”

“We don’t list `mother’ as an occupation . . . `housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about this story until I found myself in the same situation, this time at my own town hall. The clerk was obviously a career civil servant, poised, efficient, and possessed of a title like town registrar. “What is your occupation?” she inquired.

What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out: “I am a research associate in child development and human relations.”

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair. She looked up, and I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing every word. Then I stared in wonder as she wrote my impressive occupation down in bold black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?”

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I’m working for my masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities. (Anyone care to disagree?) And I often work fourteen hours a day (twenty‑four is more like it).”

There was a new note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants--ages thirteen, seven, and three. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (six months) in the child‑development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant.-- Ann Crittenden, If You’ve Raised Kids,You Can Manage Anything (New York, NY:Gotham Books, 2004), pp. 246-247.