The Strength of Mothers

“For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.”  Luke 1:49

Many times, on Mother’s Day, preachers use Proverbs 31:10-31 as the basis for their sermon.  This passage of Proverbs defines the virtuous woman and her extensive worth as one who can be trusted by her husband, who works hard day and night (“man works from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done”), who always puts others ahead of her own needs and desires, and who walks in love, integrity, compassion, and mercy.  It is the mothers who exemplify these traits who are most like Christ.

The above verse, Luke 1:49, is a statement by Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was chosen by God to carry, deliver, and rear His Son because she had found favor with God.  It is believed that she was a teenager when the news came via Gabriel, God’s angel messenger, informing her that she was to be a very important vessel in giving birth to God’s Son who would provide redemption of all those who would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The Bible clearly states that Jesus was her “firstborn” Son (Luke 2:7), and that Jesus had several half-brothers and half-sisters who were born after Jesus (Matthew 13:55-56).  His half-brother, James, authored the book of James and held a very important position, possibly pastor, of the church in Jerusalem.  When Jesus was crucified, God gave Mary superhuman strength to be able to bear losing her Son to those who hated Him and executed Him on the cross.  Losing a child is nearly unbearable, but to watch Him die under such extreme measures while hearing the jeers and mocking of the crowds that day would bring a heartache to her of which we could never imagine.

In scripture, we also find other mothers who were strong and courageous.  Hannah (Samuel 1) had not been able to bear a child, her husband’s other wife taunted her for that reason, and she had just about given up hope when she prayed to the LORD.  He heard her anguished cry and blessed her with the birth of a baby boy.  She had promised that if God granted her desire, she would give her son in service to Him for all of his life, and she kept her promise, releasing her son, Samuel, to Eli the priest.  Samuel became one of the greatest prophets and servants of the LORD.  I am sure that it was difficult for Hannah to let go of her firstborn son, but she knew that God would take care of him and use him to fulfill His plan.  God then blessed her with two more sons and two daughters.  God recognizes those who are obedient to Him.

Naomi (Ruth 1:2) was a mother who lost both of her sons.  She and her family had relocated to Moab because there was a famine in Bethlehem, their home.  Her husband died in Moab, her two sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, but then the two sons died.  Thus, Naomi was left in a strange land with two Gentile daughters-in-law and was very discouraged and despondent.  How does one come back from such tragedy?  Later she learned that the famine was over in Bethlehem, and she, Ruth, and Orpah, began to journey back to Israel, but she attempted to convince Ruth and Orpah to return to Moab, find husbands, and live their lives.  What sort of life would they have in a strange country with an old woman who was poor and destitute?  Orpah did return to Moab, but Ruth decided to stay with Naomi.  I am sure that Naomi loved Ruth and Orpah, and it took much strength and courage to release them both to find happiness rather than the two of them facing the unknown and likely having to care for and support her.  However, the lives of Naomi and Ruth took a turn for the better when Ruth met Boaz, a rich landowner, whom she married, and the two of them became the great, great grandparents of King David.

There was another mother in scripture whose son died.  Her name was Elizabeth, and she was Mary’s cousin (Luke 1:36).  Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist, Jesus’ second cousin and the forerunner of Christ (John 1:29).  John was a preacher who made his home in the wilderness, living very frugally, and making it his life’s work to call people to repentance, baptizing those who did repent.  When he was asked why he was baptizing since he wasn’t Christ, he told them that he baptized with water, but that the true Messiah was coming who was so honorable that he, John, was not worthy to unbuckle Jesus’ sandals.  When John introduced Jesus to the people, Jesus asked to be baptized by John, who, while feeling so inadequate to do so, fulfilled Jesus’ request.  John was a righteous man, insomuch that he called out Herod, the ruler over the Jews, for his adultery with Herodias, his sister-in-law.  For his zeal to expose the sins of leaders in violation of the seventh commandment, John was beheaded at the request of Herodias, her message delivered by her daughter who danced for Herod.  We do not know if John’s parents were still living at that time, but if they were, they joined the list of parents who suffered the loss of a child.

Mothers who have experienced the death of a child have a difficult time on Mother’s Day.  Even if they have other children, they still miss the one that passed away or has become estranged from them.  Children whose mothers have passed away also experience sadness and loss on this day when they see other children spending time with their moms.  My mother passed away 20 years ago, and I still miss her.  My son passed away 12 years ago, and I still miss him.  The pain is eased somewhat because they were both born again, now in heaven with the Lord, and we will be reunited one day.  While you spend time with your children or your mom, remember those who are hurting this day, including those who have desired to have children but could not, and pray that God will surround them with strength, comfort, and love.