From Mom With Love!

Sermon Notes: Saturday, May 10, 2008 and Sunday, May 11, 2008

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road 85248 - (480) 895-8766

Proverbs 31:10-31 NRSV

¹⁰A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

¹²She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

¹³She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away.

¹⁵She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.

²²She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

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

²⁸Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:

²⁹“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

II Timothy 1:1-7 NRSV

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, ²To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³I am grateful to God — whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did — when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. ⁶For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; ⁷for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

A. Introduction

1. Mom and the Psychiatrist

a. A mother was under a lot of stress and went to see a psychiatrist. He asked her, “To whom or what are you investing your time and energy?” She gave her answer and the doctor replied: “Let’s see, you spend 50% of your time on your husband, 50% on your children, 50% on your job, 50% on your charity work and 10% on your personal time. I think I see your problem.”

b. Doesn’t this sound like mom and the other important women in your life? Most mothers are so filled with love that they just keep on giving and pouring the blessings upon us.

2. “Rest In Peace” Mom!

a. Two poor boys named Carl and Timmy wanted to give their mother a gift for Mother’s Day. They had very little money and were sad that they could not buy her much of a gift. Then they saw some discarded flower arrangements behind a business. They did not know that the place was a funeral home. The two boys just saw some beautiful flowers, and they knew that mother loved flowers! So they found a vase they liked. Carefully the boys took out

and added some flowers to the vase. Then they attached a pretty pink bow that had imprinted on it: “Rest in peace.”

b. On the way home Carl and Timmy bought a candy bar for their mom. It was her favorite kind and they tucked it under the bow. When the two got home they yelled, “Happy Mother’s Day!” and presented the vase of flowers to their mother. “What beautiful flowers,” she said, but tell me about the “rest in peace” ribbon and the candy bar tucked under it.” “Well,” said Timmy, “the candy bar is because you’re so sweet.” Carl chimed in, “We liked the “rest in peace” bow. We know you work hard and are tired when you come home. Then we’re noisy and we know it takes a lot of work to take care of us. So we are going to cook and clean the house and let you, well, rest in peace today.” This young mother hugged and kissed her two boys. And true to their word she did get to rest that Mother’s Day. Then on Monday morning she proudly placed her vase of flowers on her desk at work. It certainly was a conversation piece!

c. Mother, grandmother, wife, and other women do so much for us. Often they sacrifice. And on this special day we say, “Thank You!” for what mom has given us. Indeed we get so much from mom with love!

B. It’s not easy being a mother.

1. Not born yet!

a. When our daughter Sarah was just a little gal she got upset at the family photo album. She brought it to us and asked, “Why am I not in this picture?” Chris said to her, “Sweetheart, it’s because you weren’t born yet.” “How come,” she angrily asked, “we have pictures with Julie, Jason and Matt, but not me?” I said, “Because you were not born yet.” “What does that mean?” Sarah asked. I said, “You had not come into existence yet.” ”What do you mean I didn’t ‘xist’?” “You weren’t born yet.” I said again. “Stop telling me that.” Sarah screamed. “But that’s the answer.” I said, “You weren’t born yet.” “If I weren’t born then where was I?” Sarah demanded. “You were in heaven,” Chris stated. “Well I’m not there now,” Sarah shouted, “and I ‘spect’ to be in the picture album.”

b. It’s not easy being a parent. It’s not easy being a mother.

2. Yakov Smirnoff

a. Comedian Yakov Smirnoff immigrated to America from Russia. He would write: “Coming from the Soviet Union, I was not prepared for the incredible variety of products available in American grocery stores. While on my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk. You just add water and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice. You just add water and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder! I thought to myself, ‘What a country!’”

b. Sorry Yakov, but it’s not that easy. It’s not that easy to bear children, and it certainly is not that easy to raise them. Motherhood is hard work.

3. Robert Young

a. When actor Robert Young was starring in the TV series FATHER KNOWS BEST, his real life teenage daughter asked him, “Dad how come each week on television you solve the most difficult family problems imaginable, and yet at home you seem so stupid?” He laughed and replied, “Well, honey, at the studio I just have a good scriptwriter.”

b. Unfortunately in real life we don’t have scriptwriters and we don’t get to do retakes until we get this parenting or grand-parenting thing right. We pray and try, and it is not always easy.

C. It’s from mom that we learn lasting values.

1. Cathy Comic Strip

a. In the Cathy Comic Strip, Cathy says to her mother, “I love you mom, but I’ll never be like you. I’ll never think like you. I’ll never act like you. I’ll never look like you.” Mom says, “Oh, I know, I used to say the exact same thing to my mom, and I wound up thinking just like her, acting just like her, looking like her. See, you’re just like me already.” At this, Cathy runs from the room screaming, and mom says, “Oh, isn’t that cute, that’s just what I used to do.”

b. Now to some folks this might be scary. However, we do get so much from our parents. A parent’s actions and thoughts model so much of their children’s future behavior. Parents are a child’s most important role models. And from our parents and especially mom we are taught by word and deed values.

2. Today’s Scripture: II Timothy 1:1-7

a. Today’s New Testament lesson from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy certainly reminds us of the influence of significant women in our lives. Paul reminds Timothy who taught him of the Lord and about values. Paul says, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (II Timothy 1:5 NIV)

b. Clearly the Bible reminds us that it is from mother that we get values. And clearly mom is best at this important job of molding caring responsible human beings.

3. French Kings (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, 1984, #3631, from Walter Baxendale)

a. A French writer once said this: “Of the sixty-nine monarchs who have worn the French crown, only three were men of high moral values, who loved the people and led their nation with honor.” And those three future Kings were all raised by their own mother. Their mothers did not hand them over to the state, or leave the raising to some hired governess. For those wanting the names they are: Louis IX, “Saint Louis” who was raised by his mother Blanche, Louis XII raised by his mother Maria of Cleves, and Henry IV by his mother Jae of Albret. It is said of these three Kings that they truly loved their people like a caring father.

b. Women, the values you teach and live by do make a difference.

D. It’s from mom that we learn about love.

1. Dinner Party

a. Doris had chosen to stay home and raise her two children. She wanted to do this, and hubby Bob’s income was more than sufficient to support the family. One evening Doris and Bob were invited to a big company dinner party. Doris had been at home quite awhile and was afraid she might not fit in at her husband’s business gathering. However, Doris was quite charming and the President and his wife took a liking to her, and invited Bob and Doris to sit next to them. Things were really going great Doris thought. Then suddenly everybody was staring at her as she cut up a steak. She wondered why until she realized that she was cutting up the bosses steak into nice easy to eat chunks. At home her son always sat to her left and he wouldn’t eat a steak unless mommy cut it up for him.

b. This young mother was so programmed to love, that she just instinctively took care of those around her. It was just natural for her to be loving and caring.

2. Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

a. In today’s lesson from Proverbs, King Lemuel gives us “an oracle his mother taught him.” (Proverbs 31:1 NRSV) In other words, this is what his mother told him and what he, also, learned by observing her good life: A mom works hard to take care of her family. She does her best and gives her best for her loved ones. She trains and teaches her children. She loves her husband and children. She is compassionate to others and helps the poor.

b. In one word a mother shows us: LOVE!

3. Mom saves a TV baby!

a. Psychologist Paul Chance in a PSYCHOLOGY TODAY article tells about his mother. He remembers an incident from long ago of watching TV with his family as a child. This was back in the days of grainy black and white images, and shows broadcast live. A woman was walking down a staircase carrying her baby. Halfway down the stairs she dropped the baby! Fortunately it was just a plastic doll. Since dropping the baby wasn’t in the script, the actress adlibbed. She picked the baby up, kissed it, and then finished the scene. Paul Chance says he would have long ago forgotten about this show, but for one thing. When the “baby” fell from the actress’s arms, his mother lunged forward with hands out as if to catch the baby! The rest of the family just sat there.

b. The last time he was with his mother, she was in a hospital ICU, dying of cancer. He held her hand and told her that he loved her. He then began to cry. Through the breathing tube she mouthed, “I love you. Don’t be afraid. Trust God. Soon the Lord will take me to heaven, and I and your dad will be waiting for you there.” Even as she was dying, she was looking out for and loving her boy. “Mothers are like that,” Paul Chance says. And they are. Mom is an example to us of a love that knows no bounds. Mom’s love is like God’s love.

c. This week thank mom and the other significant women in your life for their love. If mom has gone to eternity you can say a prayer of thanks, and then do something nice in her memory for a beloved aunt, the mother of your children, or that kind lady at Church.

E. Conclusion: Recap

1. It’s not easy being a mother.

2. It’s from mom that we learn lasting values.

3. It’s from mom that we learn about love.