A Mother's Heart

Today, we are honoring mothers.  The misconception of mother=s day is that this day is set aside for birth mothers, but it goes far beyond that concept. A mother is someone who gave you birth.  However, a mother can also be the one who gives you advice when to need it, correction if necessary, a hug when you desire it, and a shoulder to cry on when you're hurting.  Yes this lady can be you're birth mother, adopted mother, or a thoughtful sister, or a caring friend.  Any lady who deeply cares for you and you for them should be honored by you this day.

The characteristic of a mother includes, selflessness, caring attitude, dedication, prayerful consideration, and praising words.  These characteristics describes women that we all know and admire.  A lady who processes these qualities is said to have A Mother's Heart.

Hannah had such characteristics, she had A MOTHER'S HEART.

There are three additional characteristics that she processes:

The first characteristic is . . .

I.                    Desire (9-11)

A.                 Caused A Troubled Heart (10)

B.                 Caused A Promised (11)  Not an Empty Promise

C.                 Caused Unselfish Motive (11) A Male Child to the Family

A teacher asked a boy this question: "Suppose your mother baked a  pie and there were seven of you‑‑your parents and five children.  What part of the pie would you get?" "A sixth," replied the boy.  "I'm afraid you don't know your fractions," said the teacher.  "Remember, there are seven of you." "Yes, teacher," said the boy, "but you don't know my mother. Mother would say she didn't  want any pie."

D.                 Dedication Before Conception (11)

Ilion Jones writes that "On the great biographer Ida M. Tarbell's 80th birthday, someone asked her to name the greatest persons she had ever met. She responded, 'The greatest persons I have ever met are those nobody knows anything about.'

"Once the New York Times was asked to help a group of club women decide on the twelve greatest women in the United States. After due consideration, the editors replied, 'The twelve greatest women in the United States are women who have never been heard of outside of their own homes.'"

Jones concludes, "I ask you, who was greater, Thomas A. Edison or his mother? When he was a young lad his teacher sent him home with a note which said, 'Your child is dumb. We can't do anything for him.' Mrs. Edison wrote back, 'You do not understand my boy. I will teach him myself'. And she did, with results that are well known.

The second characteristic is . . .

II.                 Devotion (24-28)

A.                 Fulfilling of Dedication (24-27)

B.                 Giving a Child Back to God Fulfills the Devotion of Parents (28)

C.                 Hannah=s Devotion Causes Samuel=s Devotion (28)

Susannah Wesley's Rules For Raising Children:

 1.  Subdue self‑will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.

2.  Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.

3.  Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. 4.   To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed.

5.   Commend and reward good behavior.

6. Strictly observe all promises you have make to your child.

The last characteristic . . .

III.               Deliverance (2:1-2)

A.                 Praises to God (1)

B.                 Recognition of Who God Is (2)

A. Lincoln said, "No man is poor who has had a godly mother."

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help.  Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had 4 sons and they were all preachers. Someone once came into the drawing room when all the family was there. They thought they would see what Howard, one of the sons, was made of so they asked him this question: "Howard, who is the greatest preacher in your family?" Howard had a great admiration for his father and he looked straight across at him and then without a moments hesitation he answered, "Mother."