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Mother is more than dad’s
wife. From earliest days
she is there, and no matter
what happens, or who
despises us, mother’s love
is constant. She cried over
us, protected us, and was
our first nourisher. Mum is
special. Songs of long ago
glorified mothers, whether
it was that of a young
soldier telling of his love
for her, or “wanting a girl,
just like the girl, that
married dear old dad”.
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It is not surprising that the scriptures record a great deal
about mothers, for God has so ordained that mother has more
affect on her children than dad. Indeed, one of the greatest
preachers of all time, Dr. Graham Scroggie, had several boys.
Once they were asked: “Who is the greatest teacher you have ever
known?” Without exception, they all answered “My mother”. One
has only to think of the impact that Jochebed had on her son
Moses (Num. 26:59); Hannah on Samuel (1 Sam.1:24; 2:18), and
mother and grandmother on Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). They had their
sons for a few years, but true values were taught, and divine
lessons which the sons never forgot. Yet, this is where we
often make one of the greatest mistakes of a lifetime,
specializing in the non-important and neglecting the vital. The
book of Daniel, in chapters one, three and five, bring to our
attention very important dangers: |
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1) |
The danger of
taking precious things and them becoming common. (Dan. 1:2;
5:3-4) |
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2) |
The danger of
taking common things and making them important. (Dan. 3:1-30) |
The basic problem in
Daniel’s day was the same as
ours, “distorted”  values.
We live in a society of
falsified values where the
emotional life of a little
child becomes secondary to
the “rights” of an abuser;
where the sacred gift of
motherhood is common and of
little value, and the
gathering of “things”
becomes the major point of
life.
On the morning of October 21st
1966, the town of Aberfan in
Wales was stunned when the
sludge from a coal mine
swept over a school and 116
little children who had just
sung “All things bright and
beautiful” in the assembly
hall died. When the mothers
first heard of it, they
hastily went to that which
was left of the school.
Then, with husbands holding
their wives, and tears
running unashamedly down the
faces of the strong coal
miners, they were forced to
accept the heart tearing
grief that their little
David, Mary or Jill had
died. A wail of grief
engulfed the many gathered
as one little body after
another was dug from the
mountain of dirt. For so
many of them, that little
girl in her floral dress was
their wee daughter. How
deep was the lamentation
when that mother went in to
the child’s bedroom again
and saw her PJ’s lying on
the bed, and her belongings
left exactly where she had
placed them. Never again
would the child run down the
hall, never again would
there come the old familiar
cry “mommy”. That mother
would never see her child
grow up to go to high
school, get married and have
children. How dark was the
future. Scalding tears
flowed down many faces that
day and night, and those
following. What did it
matter what things they had,
what car they drove, or what
part of the town they lived
in? The most precious
“possessions” were gone
forever.
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Over fifty years
ago I sat in the Easter conference in Belfast where a brother
spoke on Mothers. Even though I was only about fourteen, it
made such an impression. I want to share it with you. |
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1) |
Samuel was a
mother’s desire - he was a granted child. (1 Sam. 1:11-27) |
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2) |
Moses was a
mother’s determination - he was a goodly child. (Ex. 2:2-4) |
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3) |
Timothy was a
mothers delight - he was a godly child. (2 Tim. 1:5) |
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4) |
Hannah prayed for
her child before he was ever conceived and dedicated him to the
Lord. (1 Sam. 1:27) |
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5) |
Jockabed nursed her
son - she gave of herself to him. (Ex. 2:9) |
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6) |
Samson’s parents
asked the Lord for wisdom on how to bring up the child. (Jud.
13:8) |
No matter how many children
parents have, each is
different and wisdom is
needed for the rearing of
each little one. Some years
ago my daughter sat in our
living room admiring her
little baby. Calling her by
name I said: “That little
child will never die!” She
looked at me and than I
said: “In time the body may
die, but the soul will live
forever”. That is a solemn
truth for that little one
will live forever in eternal
light or eternal night, and
mother had a major
responsibility concerning
its future.
In seeking their
understanding from God and
not man, Samson’s parents
knew how vital personal
fellowship with the Lord
was.
Lifting these to a higher
level, Jockabed could only
nourish the child by what
she had been nourished
herself. Spiritually, that
which mother gives to her
child is that which she has
experienced herself. The
mothers who never read the
Bible will never be able to
instruct their children in
the ways of God.
The Mothers of Salem’s
children were brought to
Christ. How wonderful to be
able to show your child the
way of salvation. How
important it is for mothers
to give a solid groundwork
for the child’s full
understanding of the
gospel. Many parents will
be in heaven and children
and grandchildren in hell
because of the parent’s
failure to teach and live
out spiritual principles.
Edward, the father of Queen
Victoria, was a believer, as
was his daughter Victoria.
From all the evidences, the
present Queen’s father was
also a believer. How
quickly things can change.
The homes of our parents may
have been godly, and even
our own homes, but I cannot
help but wonder: “What will
the spiritual homes of my
children and grandchildren
be?” What a role mother has
in this directing.
The faith and prayers of
mothers can have a profound
impact on the lives of their
children. The scriptures
urge us to be serious about
training the children the
Lord has given to us and to
equip ourselves for the
struggle by holding
unflinchingly to the Word of
God. Children are gifts
from God, but they’re born
with sinful hearts. Like
the mother of John 6, may
the Lord help each mother to
give their child something
that God can use. It begins
with prayer which follows
the example of Samson’s
mother and father who asked
God for help to know how to
“order the child” (Jud.
13:12). This was before the
child was ever born! The
word “order” means to “have
a right disposition toward
the child” so that “the
child will produce a
favorable verdict” by God.
This is not an absolute, for
when the scriptures say:
“Train up a child in the way
he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from
it” (Prov. 22:6), this does
not necessarily refer to
spiritual upbringing alone.
It indicates to observe the
general bent of the child,
that which they are inclined
toward, ie; occupation or
vocation, that which they
have been naturally gifted.
This is the parents duty to
encourage them along that
line. If a child is not
trained in the way he should
go, he will nevertheless be
trained by the principles of
the secular world, molded by
his own selfish and
undisciplined desires. This
“training” will ingrain in
him thought patterns and
habits that will turn his
desire away from the things
of God. High on the list of
biblical priorities for our
children should be the
reverential fear of God in
their lives. May we delight
in our children enough to
train them up for God!
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Let us never forget
that a mother’s
work is mainly
twofold: |
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1) |
The physical and
emotional welfare for the child, which has to do with time. |
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2) |
The
spiritual welfare of the child which has got to do with
eternity. |
Tragically, many a mother is
anxious for the first but
neglectful of the second,
yet the second is by far the
more vital.
O give us homes built firm
upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is head and
counselor and guide;
Where every child is taught
His love and favour,
And gives his heart to
Christ, the Crucified.
Godly
mothers not only bring their
children up, they seek to
bring them to God.
On this special day, may we
thank God for the mothers
who have molded our hearts.
As we honor them, we fulfill
the truth of Proverbs 31:28
“Her children rise up and
call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praises
her”
. . . Rowan
Jennings |
