Eating Cold Grits! Part 1
Sermon
Notes
May 3, 2009
Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor
Sun Lakes
United Methodist
Church
9248 E. Riggs Road,
Sun Lakes, Arizona
85248(480) 895-8766
John 15:12-13 NRSV
12“This is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you.
13No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
A. Introduction
1. Dishes Will Wait!
a. Sixteen year
old Carrie was horrified to see her mother washing dishes on Mother’s
Day. She said, “Mom, you shouldn’t be washing dishes on Mother’s
Day.” Mother was clearly touched by her daughter’s thoughtfulness, and
started to take off her apron. That’s when Carrie said, “They’ll keep
until tomorrow.”
b. Mother’s Day is not until next
Sunday. And it is good to have such a special day, because it reminds us
to thank our mother and the other important women in our lives. However,
we should not put off saying thank you to the people, both men and women who
have nurtured and guided us. What I’m saying is this: Don’t put off
either thanking or helping mom till just on her special day. Indeed we
should not wait for special holidays to express our thanks to those who bless
us. Don’t keep bottled up your thanks until tomorrow.
2. Today’s
Scripture: John 15:12
a. Jesus tells us to express our thanks now. He doesn’t
say, “When you get around to it, tomorrow or next week love others.” Very
much in the present tense He says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you.” (John 15:12 NRSV)
b. With that in mind, I begin a two part series reminding us of our need
to thank the significant people in our lives right now. And most
specifically I call us to honor and thank mom and the other important women in
our lives today. We don’t have to wait until Mother’s Day to lift up her
virtues and to express our praises.
Be it is not easy being a mom.
1. “You don’t have anything to do momma?”
a. Mom had finally gotten the older
kids dressed for the party and bless her heart it took a good two hours to
convince her teenagers to dress appropriately. Her older boy now had a
clean shirt on and his sister finally took off the bare midriff outfit for
something less provocative. Then mom got the two younger ones bathed and
dressed for bed. She read to both of the little ones and finally tucked
them under the covers. It was now time for her to sink into the big
comfortable chair for a few seconds of well deserved peace and quiet. As
mom leaned back and closed her eyes, she felt a tiny hand touch her arm,
“What’s the matter, Mommy?” asked her four year old daughter, “Don’t you have
anything to do?” I hope the child lives to be five!
b. It is not easy being a mother.
The grandmothers gathered here today remember the long hours of work that it
took to take care of their children, the house, their husband, their volunteer
tasks, and in some cases a job for pay. Certainly those of us who are
parents remember the struggles and heartaches that our children sometimes
brought us. And all of us, as we reminisce about our own childhood,
remember the work, the difficulties and even the pain that we brought to our
mothers and fathers. It’s not easy being a parent.
2. The Best Instant Oatmeal Ever!
a. Hubby and their two children came
to mom and told her that she wasn’t to lift a finger on Mother’s Day.
They were going to do all the cooking. Then they got out three pots, two
frying pans, a double boiler, three mixing bowls, a chopping board, four
measuring spoons, three measuring cups, four plates, eight bowls, six cups, six
cloth napkins, and forks, spoons and knives to serve eight. Mother was
delighted and said it was the best instant oatmeal she ever tasted!
b. Most of us recognize the work and
worry that we caused our mother, grandmother, or wife. And each day we
should be willing to give the significant women in our lives not only some
thanks, but some help. Men in our Church it’s pretty much the case that
the kids have left home. However, whether you never had kids or the nest
is now empty don’t miss seeing how much your wife does for you and express your
gratitude. Our spouses are still nurturing even if the only kid at home
is that “lad” who is a balding seventy year old.
C. We thank mom for her many
sacrifices.
1. Teen Worries About Mom
Escaping!
a. A teenage girl named Tina was on
the telephone talking to her friend. She said, “I’m really worried.
Mom slaves away at her job so that I can have all the stuff she never had, and
I can go to college. Every morning and evening she puts in long hours
washing, ironing, fixing food, and cleaning up after me. She stays up
late helping me finish school junk, and spends hours taking care of me when I’m
sick.” The friend asked, “So what’s the problem? What are you,
like, worried about?” Tina replied, “I’m afraid mom might try to escape!”
b. Moms do a lot for all of us.
They sacrifice greatly for our health and well-being. Moms go out of
their way to help us fulfill our dreams and desires.
2. Eating Cold Grits (Upper Room
May-June 1990)
a. Willis Moore became a believer because of his Grandmother. And
it’s all because Grandma was willing to eat cold grits. Oh, she liked
them warm, but it was her priorities that caused them to be cold. Her
family was always first. Willis, who was raised by his Grandmother,
fondly remembers how Grandma would cook a hot breakfast every morning.
They had farm fresh eggs, crisp bacon, homemade blackberry jelly and biscuits,
and bowls of hot grits. Grandma would ask a blessing and then all the
family except Grandma would start eating. While they ate, Grandma would
read from the Bible and give a devotional. When she finished everyone
would stop eating and she would pray again. After that everyone
cheerfully joined in table conversation while finishing breakfast. Only
then did Grandma start to eat her breakfast. “That is why she always ate
cold grits.
b. In what ways did your mother, or Grandmother,
or some other woman sacrifice for your benefit or to make sure that you learned
important truths? My mom willingly took the smaller piece of dessert,
drove me to Cub Scout meetings, stayed up all night helping me finish a school
project I had procrastinated about, and listened to me for hours as I poured
out my broken heart.
3. David Lloyd George
a. David Lloyd George is remembered as a great
statesman, and the Prime Minister of England at the end of World War I.
He led the British delegation that drew up the peace treaty ending the First
World War. But he was, also, a man who knew what it was to have a mother
who sacrificed for him. When David Lloyd George was an infant, his mother
carried him on a journey to a relative’s cottage over a familiar trail through
the hills of South Wales. A
sudden storm hit and she lost her way in the blinding blizzard. She would
never reach her destination alive. When the blizzard subsided, a rescue
team was sent. They found her lifeless body beneath the snow.
Before she died she took off all her outer garments and wrapped the clothes
around her baby. To their great surprise and joy, when they unwrapped the
clothes they found young David alive and well! His mother had given her
life to save him.
b. Most moms fortunately have been spared
such a difficult life and death decision. However, most of us here know
that our mother would have, also, willingly given her life to save ours.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John
15:13 NIV) Of many a mother this could be said: “Greater love
has no one than this, a mother who lays down her life for her family.”
Today we say thank you to the special women in our life that so willingly set
aside their own wants and their own life for our benefit. My college
educated mom could have worked outside the home, but she felt it was important
to raise four children. My mother is very social and she could have hung
out with her friends or joined some club to do her own thing, however she put
her family first. I thank mom for her many sacrifices for me.
D. Conclusion
1. Don’t wait till Mother’s Day!
a. Friends don’t wait till next
Sunday to say thank you to mom. Develop the habit of honoring and
expressing thanks each and every day. Today, we acknowledge that it’s not
easy being a mom, and we thank mom for her many sacrifices.
b. Next Sunday, I will continue this sermon
series with two additional points. However, even today you can do what I
will lift up next week: Thank mom for giving you an example to follow,
and thank mom for leading you to the Lord!
2. Express your thanks every day!
a. So what are you doing to say thank
you to mom? Do some concrete loving act beyond the usual, and remember to
express your gratitude all year long! Even if mom has gone to eternity,
you can still thank her in prayer or by doing some nice thing in her memory for
some deserving woman in your family or community.
b. And don’t forget the other special
women in your life. Are you remembering to thank the mother of your
children, that special aunt or sister, or some other wonderful woman who has
been a mentor to you? Are you just giving lip service to her
kindness? Dinner and flowers are nice. But don’t forget to lighten
her load and lend a hand all year. Put your thanks into action!
Eating Cold Grits!
1. It’s not easy being a mom.
2 We thank mom for her many sacrifices.
3. We thank mom for giving us an example to follow.
4. We thank mom for leading us to the Lord!
John 15:12-13 NRSV
12“This is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you.
13No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.