Every Mother’s Responsibility
Motherhood; what a wonderful institution! It is so wonderful that a woman named Anna Jarvis began a push in 1905 to honor all mothers. That was the year of her mother’s death. From Wikipeida we learn: The modern holiday was first celebrated in America in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held the first modern Mother's Day service of worship at Andrews Methodist Episcopal church in Grafton, West Virginia. She firmly believed "a mother is the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world". So it should be.
In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother's Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a "Mother-in-law's Day". However, owing to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday, with some of them officially recognizing Mother's Day as a local holiday (the first being West Virginia, Jarvis's home state, in 1910). In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. (Also from Wikipedia)
Like all ‘holidays’, this one also became commercialized. In just a few short years, this holiday became associated with the phrase "Hallmark holiday". By the early 1920s, Hallmark Cards and other companies had started selling Mother's Day cards. Jarvis believed that the companies had misinterpreted and exploited the idea of Mother's Day, and that the emphasis of the holiday was on sentiment, not profit. Sadly, this holiday, like many others, has become a ‘ritual’ of gifts and cards and such.
As stated above, this holiday had its official beginning with a religious group and was soon adopted by many others. Sadly, in some places this has also affected the church for which Christ died. This reminds me of a saying I often heard my father-in-law, O.D. Wilson, say. Anytime he observed the “things of the world” being adopted by the church, he’d comment, “As goes the world, so goes the church”. That has proven to be so true.
Along with all this celebration of motherhood, many have failed to realize the great responsibility a mother has. One function of the married woman is to bear children. We know this from Gen 3:16 as God spoke to Eve after she had sinned in the Garden. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Some refuse and reject this last part, even though it is God’s directive.) The mother, being the one that carries and ‘brings the child forth’ into the world has an obligation to that new soul. That baby cannot take care of itself and do for itself, but this is only part of the mother’s duty toward that soul.
The child must be guided through the first part of its life. The greatest duty a mother has for her child is to begin the guidance of that soul so the child learns of God and how to serve God after childhood becomes adolescence and adulthood. Prov 23:24-25 deals with both parents, but as we are looking at mothers today, notice her reaction when things are carried out as God desires. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. This result is achieved when the teaching provided in Prov 1:8 is properly followed. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
God ordained motherhood to be within the marriage union. This is taught in the Genesis account above and in the N. T. is found in 1Tim 5:14. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. As the mothers “guide the house”, those that seek to be godly will direct their children in the Word of God and see to it that their soul is properly guarded. We also know that even though Eph 6:4 speaks directly to fathers, it is the mother that has the greatest influence on her offspring, and “raises them” while remaining “in subjection” to her husband, the father, the head of the house. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is the mother that does the “bringing up” of the children for herself and the father. If she prepares that young soul for adulthood, she has fulfilled her greatest responsibility toward her family.
The godly mother that does this should be honored, as should all godly parents. Eph 6:1-2 directs all children to do so. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;). However, no godly mother would want to be honored or praised more greatly than God. Every godly Mother would consider it part of her responsibility to refuse a “special service” wherein she would be honored when folks are gathered to praise God and to follow His Word.
Several years ago, my wife’s dad, O.D. Wilson wrote a song to the tune of “Higher Ground” about Mother’s Day. The 3rd verse and chorus are fitting: No Christian mother would prefer, Our Lord be honored more than her. And if for Mom one day we keep, Don’t choose the first day of the week. (Chorus) Yes, Mother’s Day is every day. Let’s honor her in many ways. Perhaps her choice of all we do, Is tell her: “Mother, we love you”.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
