One of the sweetest words, in any language, is “mother.” Then, how sweet is the word “mommy” when said to the mother for the first time? Have you ever thought about the influence Mary had on Jesus? On-the-other hand, what about the influence Jesus had on Mary. The following number speaks volumes, the number is 141 million, this is how many Mother’s Day cards were sent out last year. As impressive as that number is, this is even more staggering, the number, 82.5 million, and this how many mothers there are in the U.S.A.
Here are a few sayings about mother:
1. “Always my mother; forever my friend.”
2. “Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.” – Ricki Lake.
3. “A mother’s love endures through all.” – Washington Irving.
4. “If I know what love is, it’s because of you.”
5. “The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness.” – Jessica Lange.
Then, there are these:
1. “A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” – Unknown
2. “Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.” – Dorothy Canfield Fisher
3. “Moms are the people who know us the best and love us the most.” – Unknown
4. “A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible” – Marion C. Garretty.
5. “Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.” – Erich Fromm
6. “For a mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among 10 children and each child still have all her love.” – Unknown
How is that for a start on the subject, “Mother?” I think each one has something to give to the subject; if we will take the time to do so. Once a year this nation honors “mother” but those who love their “mother,” honors her every day! Here are the greatest words ever said about mother: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). These are the words of the angel who spoke to Mary. No human being can utter these few words and have them mean what they meant as spoken by the angel. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the words of the angel to man. Mary would be the mother of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. You mothers, just think what you would think if an angel were to say these words to you? No, of course, this is never going to happen today, and I sure do not what to leave any room for err.
Its not the “flowery” words that we may use, to describe “mothers,” that makes the word “mother” great, however. It is the mother who lives up to the “mother” as God would have her, that makes “mother” so great! Let man say and write all they desire about “mother,” but it is not what makes “mother,” so great. No, “mother” as God would have her is the greatest! Here is an interesting thought! If you (mothers) were living back in the time of Mary, could you be the kind of woman that “the angel” could say these words to you: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women?” I don’t know, is that really fair? Well, if it is not fair, would you please tell me, “Why not?” Mary was no “super” woman! But what a model she must have been to other women of her day. Then, just think for a moment, what a “spot” God put her in, when the angel spoke these words. Here was a young woman with a good reputation, and she turns up to be “with child;” and she must live nine months this way. What did the other women say, if not to her face, then, behind her back!
Mary must be considered a “model” for young and older women! What do you really know about Mary? If you could put all the New Testament says about Mary in paper, how many pages would it take? Maybe less than one of my “major” sermons?
Frank R. Williams