Introduction
Mom and the Hampster
The kids had been begging for weeks, so their mother finally gave in and bought them a hamster. But just as she had feared, she was the one who wound up taking care of it. One evening, exasperated, she asked her kids, "Why did you even want that thing? How many times do you think it would have died if I hadn't been looking after it for you?"
"I don't know," her son said. "Once?"
Happy Mothers Day
Today we celebrate Mothers Day. It is certainly a time for celebration. Scripture says to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Mothers are due honor. Today is all about you, Mom.
Mothers Day Trivia
Shortest Interval Between Two Children
Jayne Bleackley is the mother who holds the record for the shortest interval between two children born in separate confinements. She gave birth to Joseph Robert on September 3, 1999, and Annie Jessica Joyce on March 30, 2000. The babies were born 208 days apart. (Less than 7 months)
Longest Interval Between Two Children
Elizabeth Ann Buttle is the mother who holds the record for the longest interval between the birth of two children. She gave birth to Belinda on May 19, 1956 and Joseph on November 20, 1997. The babies were born 41 years 185 days apart. The mother was 60 years old when her son Joseph was born.
Highest Recorded Number of Children
The highest officially recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782) of Shuya, Russia. Between 1725 and 1765, in a total of 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets. 67 of them survived infancy.
Background
For our Mothers Day message today we are going to look at the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapters one and two. Hannah was the wife of a man named Elkanah. She became the mother of Samuel the prophet.
Hannah: Grace, Favor
What a beautiful name, and a meaningful for our tribute to our mothers. You are our ‘Hannah’, the grace and favor in our lives.
Hannah was a young woman. She and Elkanah lived in Ramah, about 15 miles north of Jerusalem and 15 miles south of the city of Shiloh. Hannah was loved by her husband, even though she had no children. Much more so than today, a woman without children was a cultural and personal tragedy. Hannah was in great anguish over this.
I am aware that Mothers Day isn’t a happy event for everyone for many reasons. Some women, like Hannah, would love to celebrate Mothers Day, but can’t. Some have had mothers that haven’t spoken grace and favor into their lives. Some have other painful associations with the celebration of Mothers Day. There are people who didn’t come today because of the pain of this day. Only God can bring comfort into those situations. Let’s pray for those who are hurting this Mothers Day.
Shiloh: Resting Place
Each year, as directed, Hannah and Elkanah went with the rest of the family to the Tabernacle, the ‘house of the Lord.’ (This is the tabernacle that Joshua brought into the Promised Land.) All of this pre-dates and preceeds the temple in Jerusalem. King Solomon built the temple after his father, King David, captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites after he was anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Without King Solomon there is no temple. Without King David there is no King Solomon. Without Samuel there is no King David. Without Hannah there is no Samuel.
Is Hannah, as a mother, an important figure? You better believe it.
The Story
Hannah did not have any children, but Elkanah’s other wife did have children. She tormented Hannah about it. When Hannah arrived at the tabernacle she went in to talk with God, and she wept with great emotion. She said, “Lord, if you give me a son, I will give him to You all the days of his life.” Eli, the priest, saw her praying but didn’t hear her. She wasn’t praying for him or for show, but for God. God heard just fine. In fact, Eli thought she was drunk. (Which reminds us of the disciples in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The people who witnessed it thought they were drunk, too.)
When he saw that she wasn’t drunk but passionate about her prayer, Eli said, “May the Lord grant you what you have asked for.” Little did he know how that statement and her prayer would affect him.
God blessed Hannah. She became a mother. Her prayer of thanksgiving and praise is one of the most beautiful in all of scripture.
1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NKJV) 1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. “I smile at my enemies.” Literally, “I enlarge my mouth over my enemies.” Today, moms, I hope you smile. I want you to have something to smile about. Let’s have fun.
2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. 4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. 6 “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”
(To see some remarkable similarities between this beautiful mother’s prayer and one of another famous biblical mother, look at the song of Mary in Luke 1:46-55.)
When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah brought him to the tabernacle, where he stayed with Eli and ministered to the Lord. Hannah had three more sons and two daughters after the birth of Samuel. Every time that Hannah came to Shiloh, she brought along a little priestly robe that she made for Samuel.
GIFTS OF LUV
Let me draw three things from this story that represent the cry of Hannah’s heart and the cry of every mother’s heart. Give your mother these gifts of luv this Mothers Day.
1. Listen.
Hannah named her son Samuel, which means, “The Lord Hears.” What really meant a lot to her was the fact that God heard her, that she was heard. It is so easy to feel like no one is listening – especially if you’re a mom.
You know why you should listen? Because no one cares for you like your mom does. Moms aren’t perfect, but their intentions for you are good. How do I know? She has gone through a lot of pain for you already. She has proven herself. Listen.
Listen to your mother and her wisdom. Maybe you’ve heard these from your mom…
Momisms
§ Money does not grow on trees.
§ Don't make that face or it'll stay that way.
§ Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll be in an accident.
§ Be careful or you'll put your eye out.
§ What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
§ Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
§ Don't touch that; you don't know where it's been!
§ I hope that when you grow up, you have kids just like you! (aka: "Mother's Curse")
§ Because I'm your mother that's why.
§ If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
§ If you fall out of that tree and break you leg, don't come running to me.
§ I've got eyes in the back of my head, that's how
§ Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on!
§ As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say.
§ Don't sit too close to the television; it'll ruin your eyes.
§ Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies glow.
§ It'll never heal if you keep picking at it.
§ Little pitchers have big ears.
§ If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all
Things you have NEVER heard mom say
§ "How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"
§ "Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too"
§ "Just leave all the lights on ... it makes the house look more cheery"
§ "Let me smell that shirt -- Yeah, it's good for another week"
§ "Go ahead, keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day"
§ "The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."
§ "I don't have a tissue with me ... just use your sleeve"
§ "Don't bother wearing a jacket - the wind-chill is bound to improve"
Jesus Himself was subject to his earthly mother and earthly father in everything (Luke 2:51). He listened to her. Listen to your mother.
2. Understand. (Empathy)
1 Peter 3:7 says we are to ‘dwell with them with understanding.’ Elkanah tried to understand but, what can we say, he was a man. He said to Hannah, “Why do you want a son so bad? You’ve got me. I’m better than ten sons.” (1:8) Like I said… a man.
Have empathy and understanding for your mother. Here’s a secret: She’s a person too, like you. She has hopes, dreams, fears and problems too, like you do.
In this passage Hannah says, “I smile at my enemies.” But she was a godly woman with a loving husband. You mean she had enemies? Yes, she did. One was her ‘rival’, the baby machine. She would taunt Hannah without mercy. The word ‘enemies’ is plural. She had other enemies as well. Even godly women have enemies. They hear the taunts. Could you be understanding and compassionate?
A mother’s enemies
A mother has some natural enemies. Because of her fierce love and loyalty for you, anyone or anything that she sees as a threat to you is an enemy who taunts her: compromise, lack of discipline, sin, friends that aren’t good for you, a spouse who isn’t good enough for you, etc. These things taunt her. She wants God’s best for you.
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings
To help you be more understanding, here is a Mother’s Dictionary of Meanings:
§ Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
§ Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't like the strained carrots.
§ Full Name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.
§ Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
§ Independent: How we want our children to be, as long as they do everything we say.
§ Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours.
§ Two-Minute Warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar-grunting noises.
3. Value. (Appreciation)
Everyone, and certainly every mom, wants to be valued or appreciated. Hannah loved and cared for Samuel. She prayed for him before he was even born. She nurtured him as a little baby. She made him a robe with her own hands.
The world without mothers
Try to picture the world without moms. If everyone in my life who is a mother were taken out of the picture, it would be a very bleak picture with no beauty; no nurturing.
Scripture says that Eve was “the mother of all the living.” That can’t be true, because my wife is the mother of all the living. It is amazing to me how she nurtures and mothers those who are not even her children. She is a nurturer.
Like Samuel, if it weren’t for the prayers of our mothers, the nurturing of our mothers and the sacrifice of our mothers, we wouldn’t be here today. We need to value and appreciate mothers so that with our words and with our actions they feel valued. Not just on Mothers Day, but all the time.
Todd and Anna Mae
One of the most wonderful women I have ever known, Anna Mae Erickson, is retiring from 26 years of service here at the church. (You will be invited to a reception in her honor.) The staff took her to lunch the other day to honor and appreciate her.
I had everyone at the table share in one word something that describes Anna Mae. Words like: sunshine, joy, beautiful were used, and she was really blushing. When we got to Pastor Todd, our Student Ministries Pastor and one of the newest on staff, he brought her to tears of emotion with the word he used: mom. There was no greater compliment that he could have given her.
Mom, we appreciate you. We don’t always give you the value and appreciation that you deserve. We’re sorry. We often take you for granted, like the child sent to bed…
Child Sent to Bed
A small boy is sent to bed by his mother... [Five minutes later] "Mom..." "What?" "I'm thirsty. Can you bring me a glass of water?" "No. You had your chance. Lights out." [Five minutes later] "Mom..." "WHAT?" "I'm THIRSTY...Can I have a glass of water??" "I told you NO! If you ask again I'll have to spank you!!" [Five minutes later] "Mommm..." "WHAT??!!" "When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a glass of water?"
Conclusion
You want to know some great gifts for the special moms in your life? Listen. Understand. Value. They go a long way. Do something to make your mom smile.
Today is not just about mothers, but also about grandmothers. Let me end today with a story of a typical grandmother.
Grandma on the Plane
For two solid hours, the lady sitting next to a man on an airplane had told him about her grandchildren. She had even produced a plastic-foldout photo album of all nine of the children. She finally realized that she had dominated the entire conversation on her grandchildren.
"Oh, I've done all the talking, and I'm so sorry. I know you certainly have something to say. Please, tell me... what do you think of my grandchildren?"
Moms, today it is all about you.
Mom and the Hampster
The kids had been begging for weeks, so their mother finally gave in and bought them a hamster. But just as she had feared, she was the one who wound up taking care of it. One evening, exasperated, she asked her kids, "Why did you even want that thing? How many times do you think it would have died if I hadn't been looking after it for you?"
"I don't know," her son said. "Once?"
Happy Mothers Day
Today we celebrate Mothers Day. It is certainly a time for celebration. Scripture says to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Mothers are due honor. Today is all about you, Mom.
Mothers Day Trivia
Shortest Interval Between Two Children
Jayne Bleackley is the mother who holds the record for the shortest interval between two children born in separate confinements. She gave birth to Joseph Robert on September 3, 1999, and Annie Jessica Joyce on March 30, 2000. The babies were born 208 days apart. (Less than 7 months)
Longest Interval Between Two Children
Elizabeth Ann Buttle is the mother who holds the record for the longest interval between the birth of two children. She gave birth to Belinda on May 19, 1956 and Joseph on November 20, 1997. The babies were born 41 years 185 days apart. The mother was 60 years old when her son Joseph was born.
Highest Recorded Number of Children
The highest officially recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782) of Shuya, Russia. Between 1725 and 1765, in a total of 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets. 67 of them survived infancy.
Background
For our Mothers Day message today we are going to look at the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapters one and two. Hannah was the wife of a man named Elkanah. She became the mother of Samuel the prophet.
Hannah: Grace, Favor
What a beautiful name, and a meaningful for our tribute to our mothers. You are our ‘Hannah’, the grace and favor in our lives.
Hannah was a young woman. She and Elkanah lived in Ramah, about 15 miles north of Jerusalem and 15 miles south of the city of Shiloh. Hannah was loved by her husband, even though she had no children. Much more so than today, a woman without children was a cultural and personal tragedy. Hannah was in great anguish over this.
I am aware that Mothers Day isn’t a happy event for everyone for many reasons. Some women, like Hannah, would love to celebrate Mothers Day, but can’t. Some have had mothers that haven’t spoken grace and favor into their lives. Some have other painful associations with the celebration of Mothers Day. There are people who didn’t come today because of the pain of this day. Only God can bring comfort into those situations. Let’s pray for those who are hurting this Mothers Day.
Shiloh: Resting Place
Each year, as directed, Hannah and Elkanah went with the rest of the family to the Tabernacle, the ‘house of the Lord.’ (This is the tabernacle that Joshua brought into the Promised Land.) All of this pre-dates and preceeds the temple in Jerusalem. King Solomon built the temple after his father, King David, captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites after he was anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Without King Solomon there is no temple. Without King David there is no King Solomon. Without Samuel there is no King David. Without Hannah there is no Samuel.
Is Hannah, as a mother, an important figure? You better believe it.
The Story
Hannah did not have any children, but Elkanah’s other wife did have children. She tormented Hannah about it. When Hannah arrived at the tabernacle she went in to talk with God, and she wept with great emotion. She said, “Lord, if you give me a son, I will give him to You all the days of his life.” Eli, the priest, saw her praying but didn’t hear her. She wasn’t praying for him or for show, but for God. God heard just fine. In fact, Eli thought she was drunk. (Which reminds us of the disciples in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The people who witnessed it thought they were drunk, too.)
When he saw that she wasn’t drunk but passionate about her prayer, Eli said, “May the Lord grant you what you have asked for.” Little did he know how that statement and her prayer would affect him.
God blessed Hannah. She became a mother. Her prayer of thanksgiving and praise is one of the most beautiful in all of scripture.
1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NKJV) 1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. “I smile at my enemies.” Literally, “I enlarge my mouth over my enemies.” Today, moms, I hope you smile. I want you to have something to smile about. Let’s have fun.
2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. 4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. 6 “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”
(To see some remarkable similarities between this beautiful mother’s prayer and one of another famous biblical mother, look at the song of Mary in Luke 1:46-55.)
When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah brought him to the tabernacle, where he stayed with Eli and ministered to the Lord. Hannah had three more sons and two daughters after the birth of Samuel. Every time that Hannah came to Shiloh, she brought along a little priestly robe that she made for Samuel.
GIFTS OF LUV
Let me draw three things from this story that represent the cry of Hannah’s heart and the cry of every mother’s heart. Give your mother these gifts of luv this Mothers Day.
1. Listen.
Hannah named her son Samuel, which means, “The Lord Hears.” What really meant a lot to her was the fact that God heard her, that she was heard. It is so easy to feel like no one is listening – especially if you’re a mom.
You know why you should listen? Because no one cares for you like your mom does. Moms aren’t perfect, but their intentions for you are good. How do I know? She has gone through a lot of pain for you already. She has proven herself. Listen.
Listen to your mother and her wisdom. Maybe you’ve heard these from your mom…
Momisms
§ Money does not grow on trees.
§ Don't make that face or it'll stay that way.
§ Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll be in an accident.
§ Be careful or you'll put your eye out.
§ What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
§ Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
§ Don't touch that; you don't know where it's been!
§ I hope that when you grow up, you have kids just like you! (aka: "Mother's Curse")
§ Because I'm your mother that's why.
§ If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
§ If you fall out of that tree and break you leg, don't come running to me.
§ I've got eyes in the back of my head, that's how
§ Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on!
§ As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say.
§ Don't sit too close to the television; it'll ruin your eyes.
§ Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies glow.
§ It'll never heal if you keep picking at it.
§ Little pitchers have big ears.
§ If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all
Things you have NEVER heard mom say
§ "How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"
§ "Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too"
§ "Just leave all the lights on ... it makes the house look more cheery"
§ "Let me smell that shirt -- Yeah, it's good for another week"
§ "Go ahead, keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day"
§ "The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."
§ "I don't have a tissue with me ... just use your sleeve"
§ "Don't bother wearing a jacket - the wind-chill is bound to improve"
Jesus Himself was subject to his earthly mother and earthly father in everything (Luke 2:51). He listened to her. Listen to your mother.
2. Understand. (Empathy)
1 Peter 3:7 says we are to ‘dwell with them with understanding.’ Elkanah tried to understand but, what can we say, he was a man. He said to Hannah, “Why do you want a son so bad? You’ve got me. I’m better than ten sons.” (1:8) Like I said… a man.
Have empathy and understanding for your mother. Here’s a secret: She’s a person too, like you. She has hopes, dreams, fears and problems too, like you do.
In this passage Hannah says, “I smile at my enemies.” But she was a godly woman with a loving husband. You mean she had enemies? Yes, she did. One was her ‘rival’, the baby machine. She would taunt Hannah without mercy. The word ‘enemies’ is plural. She had other enemies as well. Even godly women have enemies. They hear the taunts. Could you be understanding and compassionate?
A mother’s enemies
A mother has some natural enemies. Because of her fierce love and loyalty for you, anyone or anything that she sees as a threat to you is an enemy who taunts her: compromise, lack of discipline, sin, friends that aren’t good for you, a spouse who isn’t good enough for you, etc. These things taunt her. She wants God’s best for you.
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings
To help you be more understanding, here is a Mother’s Dictionary of Meanings:
§ Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
§ Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't like the strained carrots.
§ Full Name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.
§ Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
§ Independent: How we want our children to be, as long as they do everything we say.
§ Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours.
§ Two-Minute Warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar-grunting noises.
3. Value. (Appreciation)
Everyone, and certainly every mom, wants to be valued or appreciated. Hannah loved and cared for Samuel. She prayed for him before he was even born. She nurtured him as a little baby. She made him a robe with her own hands.
The world without mothers
Try to picture the world without moms. If everyone in my life who is a mother were taken out of the picture, it would be a very bleak picture with no beauty; no nurturing.
Scripture says that Eve was “the mother of all the living.” That can’t be true, because my wife is the mother of all the living. It is amazing to me how she nurtures and mothers those who are not even her children. She is a nurturer.
Like Samuel, if it weren’t for the prayers of our mothers, the nurturing of our mothers and the sacrifice of our mothers, we wouldn’t be here today. We need to value and appreciate mothers so that with our words and with our actions they feel valued. Not just on Mothers Day, but all the time.
Todd and Anna Mae
One of the most wonderful women I have ever known, Anna Mae Erickson, is retiring from 26 years of service here at the church. (You will be invited to a reception in her honor.) The staff took her to lunch the other day to honor and appreciate her.
I had everyone at the table share in one word something that describes Anna Mae. Words like: sunshine, joy, beautiful were used, and she was really blushing. When we got to Pastor Todd, our Student Ministries Pastor and one of the newest on staff, he brought her to tears of emotion with the word he used: mom. There was no greater compliment that he could have given her.
Mom, we appreciate you. We don’t always give you the value and appreciation that you deserve. We’re sorry. We often take you for granted, like the child sent to bed…
Child Sent to Bed
A small boy is sent to bed by his mother... [Five minutes later] "Mom..." "What?" "I'm thirsty. Can you bring me a glass of water?" "No. You had your chance. Lights out." [Five minutes later] "Mom..." "WHAT?" "I'm THIRSTY...Can I have a glass of water??" "I told you NO! If you ask again I'll have to spank you!!" [Five minutes later] "Mommm..." "WHAT??!!" "When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a glass of water?"
Conclusion
You want to know some great gifts for the special moms in your life? Listen. Understand. Value. They go a long way. Do something to make your mom smile.
Today is not just about mothers, but also about grandmothers. Let me end today with a story of a typical grandmother.
Grandma on the Plane
For two solid hours, the lady sitting next to a man on an airplane had told him about her grandchildren. She had even produced a plastic-foldout photo album of all nine of the children. She finally realized that she had dominated the entire conversation on her grandchildren.
"Oh, I've done all the talking, and I'm so sorry. I know you certainly have something to say. Please, tell me... what do you think of my grandchildren?"
Moms, today it is all about you.
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