Moms Write Their Families' Stories

There are few people who have the most profound look upon the outcome of another individual’s life than a mother!

This is not to undermine the importance of fatherhood, siblings, spouses or grandparents - but MOTHER is one generally the most prominent figure in the life of a child and even adult, and HER involvement and example in the life of a child is one of the most significant to determine outcome.

That is not to say that a MOTHER can do everything right and a child can make poor choices messing up their own lives due to their free will and rebellion — but powerful are the examples, prayers, teachings, and actions of MOM!

In fact, it could be said that MOMS have the ability to WRITE the STORIES for their children’s lives. Although they are only RESPONSIBLE for the first chapters, the starting chapters of ANY STORY sets the scene and basis for the END!

This morning I want to look at three mothers in Scripture and see how they helped write the stories of their children!

1. A Mother’s Intervention

All of us here can probably recall the intervention of our Mom’s in a moment of crisis in our lives. Some of those interventions may even had been before we were aware, but made a difference in our being here today!!!

The Hebrew mother of Moses is one of these!!! Her name was Jochebed and the daughter of the Pharoah Bithiah. Both intervened in the life of this child.

exodus 1.22 - exodus 2

Exodus 1:22–2:10 NLT

22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.” 1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. 7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. 8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. 9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. 10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

Jochebed must have been quite the woman - she refused to allow her child to die, but also her children - Aaron, Miriam and Moses would have a profound impact in the history of Israel!

Her act of having her daughter take her child to the river and hide him in a basket was an act of bravery, creativity, and desperation — but her INTERVENTION in the life of her child not only saved him from death, but preserved him to be the DELIVERER of ISRAEL!

Such great risk to release your child even as an infant into the waters of the NILE at a time where children were being slaughtered to control the population. However, she was not willing to see her child perish. Whatever means necessary to preserve his life.

For every MOM that has not taken the path of convenience, but fought to preserve LIFE for their child regardless of the circumstance they find themselves in - you are heroes!

We see Moses discovered by Pharoah’s daughter (BITYA)- who also took risk and also made intervention!

Both woman broke the law commanded by Pharoah placing their own lives at risk to intervene and save the life of this child.

Both placed concern for the life of the child and a love for the child ahead of themselves.

Both instilled teaching and training in the child’s life that would assist him later in life - one to know the roots of the Hebrews and their ways, the other to train in the way of a world leader and educate to be the head of a nation!

Mom’s — your intervention in the lives of your children and the dangers that face them write the story for children to be waymakers, leaders, survivors who can make an impact in the world around them.

You may look at your intervention at being minimal compared to these women, but every act of intervening in the life of a child to give it direction, hope and a future is of great importance!!!

Some Moms will intervene through life choices, other through sacrifices, and many if not most through prayer!!!

Jochabed would have to sacrifice RAISING HER SON IN HER HOME to preserve his life.

Bithia would have to sacrifice her son choosing his heritage over her upbringing...

Moms, do not think the sacrifices you have made to impact the life of your child has gone unnoticed!!!

A contemporary MOM who made a profound impact and wrote the story of her son was a woman who came from limited means. Financially challenged, lacking even a high school education, she could have allowed poverty, racism, and the circumstances of life allow her to be a victim and take the path of least resistance. She was married at 13, later discovered her husband had another family, then divorced, was suicidal at one point, but pulled herself out of the slump to make something of her life and that of her children...

The poem she spoke often to her children...

If things go bad for you And make you a bit ashamed Often you will find out that You have yourself to blame

Swiftly we ran to mischief And then the bad luck came Why do we fault others? We have ourselves to blame

Whatever happens to us, Here is what we say “Had it not been for so-and-so Things wouldn’t have gone that way.”

And if you are short of friends, I’ll tell you what to do Make an examination, You’ll find the faults in you…

You are the captain of your ship, So agree with the same If you travel downward You have yourself to blame

Instead, she intervened in the life of her children, she required them to leave the TV off and read two library books every week and write a report on them. Her son grew up to be Ben Carson the famous neurosurgeon, Presidential candidate and now secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the US.

Showing that regardless of circumstance, the intervention of a mother in the life of her child can write their future!!!

2. A Mother’s Ambition and Surrender

We all know that mothers can have great ambition for their children!

How many a Mom taking their child to sports practices every day hoping for their great success as adults in the sports world!! I have met these moms!!!

Whether sports, music, acting, education, leadership - most Moms have ambition for their children!!!

The key is surrendering that ambition to the plans of God!

Matthew 20:20–28 NLT

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Here is Salome - her husband Zebedee - a presumed wealthier fishermen (due to the fact he had hired help). She was also the half sister of the Virgin Mary. She was present when they went to embalm Jesus at the tomb.

After her sons had experienced the Transfiguration (Christ showing his eternal glory on the Mount) she comes to ask a request...

Here she comes to Jesus and ambitiously asks for her sons to sit on both sides of Him in His kingdom!

THAT IS AMBITION!!!

She sought after position and power for her boys!

How many a mother seeks for the greatness of her children!!!

Jesus, however, clarifies to her - it is not my decision by my Father in heaven! and whoever wants to be great must first become a servant.

The mother who would yield the greatness of this world for her children for the servant rule of her child who would pursue serving in the Kingdom of GOD!!!! Not worldly greatness, but Kingdom greatness through servanthood!

James and John when asked if they would partake of the cup of suffering both surrendered to the Lord saying YES, but you have to wonder if they knew what that really meant.

James was the first apostle martyred for the Kingdom, killed by the sword by Herod for proclaiming the Gospel!

John, the last and only apostle to die by natural cause — but he would spend a large sum of his latter life exiled on the isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation.

Both these sons ARE GREAT in the KINGDOM OF GOD - but not by the world’s ambitious standards of greatness but through the servant lives and sacrifice in spreading the Gospel of Christ!

Billy Graham spoke of his mother...

“Speaking on Mother’s Day in 2003, Mr. Graham told the audience in San Diego that his mother was a farm woman. “She and my father didn’t have much education … but my mother was a woman of God. She always had devotions with us, she always prayed with us, she always loved us, and did so many things, as I look back now, out of the way. And she and my father, when I was in Bible school, they would go up to a room upstairs and kneel down every morning at 10 o’clock to pray for their son in Bible school.”

Mrs Graham sought for the her son’s greatness in surrender on her knees!!!

Oh MOMS - to seek not for this world’s greatness, but for the greatness of Christ IN OUR CHILDREN - and to do so on our knees!!!!

Salome, Mrs. Graham - they wrote the stories of their children in spiritual surrender and ambition!

3. A Mother’s Mistakes

Some Moms might be out there going, man I messed up!!!

HOLD ON!!!

Romans 8:28 NLT

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

God can even turn a mother’s mistake around for HIS GLORY!!!

Gen 1.27

Genesis 27:1–13 NLT

1 One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied. 2 “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. 3 Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.” 5 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6 she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” 11 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.” 13 But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!”

OK! Rebekah was also a woman of ambition for her son - but boy did she do it wrong!!!

She taught her son to deceive his father, steal his brother’s blessing and got the boy run out of town!!!

I would say that is neither great example, sacrifice, or surrender!!!

I would call that a parenting FAILURE! and she would pay a consequence for that failure, she would not see her son again!

However, through that blessing, Jacob supplanted the birthright and became the Father of Israel!

He would have turmoil in his own family - turmoil I believe planted in his life through a mother’s choice, however, God would still carry out His plans, and promised to make of him a GREAT NATION!

Another man who was inspirational and foundational in the start of a great nation was George Washington — General, First President, and War Hero of the Revolution! His mother was adamantly opposed to the Revolution and a faithful loyalist continuously making complaint against Washington.

I share this to say, that even MOMS who make mistakes can have children who do great things!!!

A mother whose mistakes have been made can REWRITE their children’s stories through prayer! It is never too late to begin making a difference in the lives of our children!

CONCLUSION

So, Moms -

You DO make a difference in your children’s lives! You do help shape their futures, write their stories and influence who they become.

Thank you for being you! For loving, sacrificing, praying, surrendering and even in the mistakes you make - you teach us patience, forgiveness, and grace!!!

The real question is --- what do you want to be remembered for in influencing your children...

Can I tell you the most important thing you can do...

Proverbs 22:6 NLT

6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!