House of Hope Online

May 11, 2025

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Well, today is Mother’s Day, so allow me to wish all mothers a happy day.  I pray today is a joyful day of appreciation and love for mothers and their children. 

Our oldest son, Will, sent Nancy a text message this week that touched our hearts.  Will was strolling through Home Depot, and his text said:

“Do you know why I love Home Depot?  Because I remember coming here with Mom to buy a bunch of aluminum duct supplies to build a knight’s armor for school.  It was fun buying things and not using them for their original purpose.  This was before the internet, so I’m not sure how she knew how to do that!”

Nancy and Will went on to reminisce about other school projects, and it brought back memories for me about how Nancy was so involved in our kids’ education.  She volunteered at school as a homeroom mom all the time, served as President of the Horace Mann Elementary School PTA in Indiana, PA and she served as the secretary of Bethel Park High School Football Boosters.  More importantly, she was all over the curriculum of each school to root out any teaching that conflicted with the word of God.

As I prepared for today’s message, I felt the Lord wanted to acknowledge this trait to honor moms who have been there and done that, and to encourage young mothers today to be their child’s greatest advocate.

The Heart of a Mother

Jesus said this about the heart of the mother:

John 16:

 21 “Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world.

A child brings joy to the heart of the mother – joy that a child has been born into the world.  This is a joy that continues as the child grows and develops, even after the child reaches adulthood and even parenthood.  That joy continues to manifest in the heart of Christian mothers as they walk with Jesus who said that.  I have seen that joy manifest in Nancy’s heart many times, and it continues to manifest today.

God’s Tribute to Mom

Here is a both a tribute and an encouragement to moms from the word of God:

Proverbs 31:

 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

 26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

 28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband [also,] and he praises her, [saying:]

 29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

As children and husbands, we should rise up and bless our mothers and wives, not just on Mothers’ Day, but all days.  Take the time to reminisce about all the times she has advocated for you, taught you strength and dignity, and smiled at your future.  Remember the wisdom she imparted, and the teaching of kindness.  Remember all she did on your behalf to make that future happen.  She walked through Home Depot with you and helped you figure out how to make a knight’s armor out of aluminum duct supplies.  She dealt with teachers and football coaches, not on her own behalf, but yours.

“…Rise up and bless her…,’ sayeth the Lord of Hosts.

How to Rise Up and Bless Her

The Bible prescribes the way to rise and bless her.  Proverbs 6 tells us not to reject her teaching.

Proverbs 6:

 20 ¶ My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

 22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

God’s word tells us to never reject the teaching of our mothers, because they will continue to guide us, watch over us, and speak to us.  This word is even more important today as the world attempts to make those lessons obsolete.  But God says do not forsake those teachings.   They will, and should, continue to talk to you and guide you.

Glory to God!

Let us pray.

Father God, we thank You for our mothers today and every day.  We lift up all relationships between mother and child and pray that You would continue to bless those relationships from this day forth.  May the Spirit of joy be present in, and bring an anointing to, all such relationships.  May there be healing where necessary and may the Spirit of forgiveness do a powerful work if needed.  Thank You, Lord, for the strength and dignity of our mothers, for the teaching of kindness, and for the perseverance and hard work she showed in advocating for our future happiness.  Help us to bind her teaching on our heart.  Lord, we ask You to bless our moms, and we look forward to the day when we are all together with You forever.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.