“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Proverbs 31:28

This month God gave me a special message for Mothers!

A BOUQUET OF MOTHERS

It is no doubt that there are mothers reading this right now that can reflect back on many different experi­ences in their lives, some joyous and others very difficult. Many of you may have young children and experience the daily challenges of time management and character development. But, in the midst of all this challenge you can probably remember some of those precious moments when your three year old turns your tears to laughter. Some of you may have older children who have strayed from the Lord and have felt the confusion as to why this has hap­pened. Others of you may have reached the point in your lives when your children have begun new lives of their own, leaving you with a void you had not experienced before. Finally, there are probably some of you who have experienced the devastation of losing a child. If you can identify with any of these mothers, I believe this newsletter will minister to your life in a very special way.

Let’s take a look at this first mother. She is the mother who manages her time around the needs of her fam­ily and continuously administers character development training to her children on a non-stop basis. She often grows weary and questions her strength, but never her calling, for she knows from where her renewal of strength comes. She is often “out of control” of the situation, but never “out of love” for the solution. She is the “MOTHER OF LOVE”. I am reminded of Susannah Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, who was a perfect ex­ample of this type of mother. Susannah was the mother of nineteen children, nine of which she lost. In her ongoing commitment to her ten living children, she knew God was the source of her strength. Her husband was away from home much of the time and in this time period homes were small, often one or two rooms. With this in mind you can see she probably did not have much time alone. She found her time of renewal when she would pull her apron over her head for a parent/teacher conference with God. Her children quickly learned that Mom was on a “conference call” and must be left alone. Can you picture her with a child on each leg, exchanging fists with one another, shoes flying across the room, cries of help coming from the loser of the battle, and the stinch of a much needed diaper change? (At these times, I am sure the apron served for many purposes) I have often been tempted to buy me an apron, just to see if it makes prayer time a little easier to find. Indeed she had many challenges, but she understood the gifts that were entrusted to her and accepted her calling boldly. If you can identify with Susannah Wesley, you might be able to identify with this poem:

A HOMESCHOOLER’S HOUSE

It was a nightmare or so it seemed But, then I woke up, and it wasn’t a dream. There were dishes on the counter & toys on the floor And Spot under the table, eating the leftovers from the night before!

“My house was a wreck,” I cried in despair. Why was I the only one who seemed to care? Did they not notice the things on the floor, When they had to step up & over them before reaching the door?

“Mom, I have no socks, I thought you washed the clothes.” I frustratedly answered, “look under the chairs & follow your nose!” You know those socks we blamed the washer for eating? Those socks, it never had the privilege of meeting.

I’ve discovered they’ve been hiding all along Generally, in places where they do not belong. If I could find a place to hide that wasn’t taken, That’s where I’d be, there is no mistaken!

I flung down in my chair, my hands in the air “Help me Lord,” I cried, “no one seems to care!” “Oh, my dear child,” I heard Him calmly say, “Why do you fret these things & let them spoil your day?”

“Do you not remember, what I called you to do? Was it spic & span houses and perfection, too? Don’t let these things cause you to forget your call. Teach your children My Word & to love Me above all.”

“Nothing else matters, you see, it will always be there But, these treasures I’ve given you, will soon disappear.” They are yours but for a short time And then I’ll call them to use their lives to glorify mine.”

“So cherish each moment And train them each day The mess might remain, But opportunities are too precious to let slip away.”

Ann Haney

To this mother Christ would say, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new command­ment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” 2 John 4-6

The next mother I would like to look at with you is the mother who’s child has gone astray. The mother who comes to my mind is the prodigal son’s mother. Although, the Bible does not mention her, we can feel the heart of this mother as she probably experienced many thoughts of confusion, failure, hopelessness, and even an­ger. I am sure she probably questioned where she might have failed in her son’s upbringing. She probably recalled all the things she “thought” she had done right, which added to her confusion as to why her son would choose to go down this path. This probably left her with a sense of hopelessness for the life of her child and in even trying to raise her other children. It might even have led her to find blame with others in her search for answers. Ultimately, it might have resulted in anger towards God, questioning why He would allow this to happen. If you find yourself in the same situation as this mother, remember this is not the end of the story. Like this mother, you are the “MOTHER OF HOPE”, a hope in Christ that brings her child back home. If you find yourself hanging on to this “hope” you will be able to identify with this poem:

THE AMAZING BLOOD OF CHRIST

“God I’ve failed”, kept ringing through my mind As I recalled my past and all the ways I tried.

My children are my task, the greatest one you gave to me Where did I go wrong, please help me see.

Am I doing anything right, I really thought I was But today I feel a failure, is it me or “just because”?

My heart has sunk so deep in me, a pain I’ve never felt before I’ve lost my child and wonder, what am I fighting for.

I could have done this, I should have done that, began racing through my mind But, God it’s too late, I didn’t make it there in time.

I am hurt, deceived and feel so betrayed The enemy has won the fight, “I quit Lord,” I prayed.

But, as these words kept pounding over and over in my mind A strength from somewhere said, “I’m not giving in this time.”

“How can I hurt you Satan, for what you’ve done to me? I’ll praise my God for all I’m worth and watch your victory flee.”

The pain still great, as on my knees I cried unto the Lord “Send me a miracle, I need a Gideon sword.”

The enemy is far to strong, I can’t fight this on my own. A voice said, “close your eyes, hold on tight and watch Satan be overthrown.”

“I know you need me, I just waited for you to call, The battle is mine”, says the Lord, “Satan always falls.”

A praying servant is all I need from you` Set your face to prayer and see what I can do.

To say Satan wins is a far cry from the truth Watch as I step in and turn my power loose.

All the things in darkness will now be brought to light. You see I’ve handed over your sword with which to win the fight.

I’ve brought confusion and carelessness to the enemy’s camp today. Take the sword I gave you and light up the way.

Only I can do these miracles too great to understand I turn the swords of evil by my victorious hand.

“Oh God, yes I see it, you’ve brought these things to light.” “You gave me strength and confidence and your sword to win the fight.”

God said, “With this sword bind and pray and watch like Gideon.” The enemy is falling by his own hands, because love conquers sin!

“Who can do what I can do? My power never fails. Satan always looses and my love always prevails.”

“You see this child you pray for who has been led astray Today you gave him to me and I turned his heart my way.”

“I know the pain that’s felt with these things of life But, I can comfort and mend and turn away all forms of strife.”

“Today I give your child back to you to continue with your training. He’s learned lessons, so have you and good ground you are gaining. “

“Wipe your eyes, look in my face and see my love for you. I have promised ‘I will never fail you’ and there’s nothing I can’t do.”

“I know you wonder with this past, how can my glory show. You doubt your testimony and wonder can it grow.”

“Let me assure you I did not set out to fail. What Satan meant for evil, my good will much more prevail.”

“I will not allow my plan for your lives to be changed by these events, Did you forget my Son who died and why to the cross He went?”

“It was for sin, not to cover, but to wash away, It’s as though these things have never happened from this very day.”

“Satan knows he cannot steal the future I’ve planned for your child and you, Christ’s blood covers everything either one of you will ever do.”

“Christ’s blood is the answer to every problem faced, Every sin committed can be permanently erased.”

“Plead the blood daily on your child and hold steadfast to your teaching. A heart that seems unresponsive, be assured that I am reaching.”

Ann Haney

To this mother Christ would say, “They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” Isaiah 65:23

The next mother we will look at is the “MOTHER OF FAITH”. This mother was Hannah. She was so desirous to be a mother she prayed to the Lord for a child and promised the child to the service of the Lord. Is not this the desire of every mother that their child fulfill the will of God in their lives and enter into service for Him. I am sure Hannah faced times of sadness when she missed having her child around, but overcame it by knowing her child was serving the Lord and growing in Him. This time of separation from her child came at an early age in her child’s life. Most of us will not be separated from our child at an early age, but a time will come in the lives of us all when we will face God’s appointed time of letting go of our children. They are only entrusted to us for a set time, they belong to Christ forever. Many of you may have already experienced this time of “letting go”, but as a mother you “love on without end”. If you have already experienced this time of change in the life of a mother

you will identify with the following poem.( Eventually we will all find ourselves at this place.):

                             LOVING ON & LETTING GO

From the very first day he was born You knew just what to do You nurtured and loved him tenderly Rocked him and comforted him, too.

When he was hungry He whimpered a thirsty cry You hurried to his rescue His needs to supply.

As you watched him grow more each day And cared so patiently He made your love grow deeper Each time he said, “mommy”.

You watched him take his first step And gently cheered him on Your arms were always ready to catch a fall When his legs were not so strong.

You taught him how to share his toys Praising him each time he did With all the little girls and boys You showed him how to live

He grew older and his needs did change But, your love never did Protection you provided him From all he came in contact with.

You’ve built a perfect hedge Around this child of mine We must now trim the hedge and let him out It’s my appointed time.

I know this is hard for you You’ve been there for so long You’ll still be with him with your love In my will, there is no wrong.

Let’s look back on my love And compare my love for you Let’s examine all you’ve done So you can see I’ll love him too.

From the first day you were born I knew just what to do I nurtured and loved you tenderly From above I comforted you, too.

When you were hungry And needed food for your soul I hurried to your rescue With food to make you whole.

I watched you grow more each day And cared so patiently You made my love grow deeper Each time you called, “daddy”.

I watched each step you took And cheered you with each one My arms were there to break your fall When your legs were not so strong.

I taught you how to share my love And praised you each time you did With all my precious children You showed them how to live.

As you grew older and your needs did change My love never did Protection I provided you From all you came in contact with.

Now you see my child this love I gave It’s the same love you gave him The time has come to let him go Trust me with the will I have for him.

The plan I’ve had for you You’ve done so faithfully Now a new stage must begin Let go, but love on without end!

Ann Haney

To this mother Christ would say, “Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and set you on a firm founda­tion and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things which we suggest and with which we charge you.” II Thessalonians 3:3

Finally, I would like to share with you the “MOTHER OF PROMISE”. This is the mother who has lost a child. The mother that I immediately think of is, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Without any question she must have cried many tears as she experienced the loss of a dearly loved son. She had smiled with him, laughed with him, dried his tears, comforted him and loved him with a mother’s love. Although sadness gripped her world when He was taken from her, she released him with the love of a mother who held on to an enduring promise that she would be reunited with Him again. Nothing could replace her loss, except the peace of a promise. You might be able to identify with this poem as Mary would have:

THE ENUDURING PROMISE

From the moment I knew You were birthed within my womb My heart found great joy

To know you would arrive so soon.

No matter what the circumstance Or timing in my life Joy became my strength To be blessed with your life.

With your quick arrival Tears of joy soon were felt As on my face before the Lord I praised Him for the blessing He had dealt.

Laughter filled my days Through the things you did do You brought so much joy To all who knew you.

There were also days of challenge When my patience you often tried But through God’s faithful leading I instructed you, to let Him be your guide.

I watched you as you grew And give your life unto the Lord Watching closely everyday As you grew more in His word.

Little did I know My time with you would be so short One moment we were laughing The next all I felt was hurt.

“God”, I asked, For I do not understand “How can one endure such suffering, For I am, but mortal man?”

I heard a voice reply “Do you remember when he gave his life to me? This is my enduring promise For again this life you’ll see.”

“Trust what you do not understand And hold tightly to my hand For the time will come someday, When to me I’ll bring all man.”

Ann Haney

To this mother Christ would say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Fa­ther’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

John 14:1-3

No matter where you find yourself in this journey as a “mother”, you are above all blessed of the Lord to have been chosen for this great high calling. We are all mothers of “LOVE, HOPE, PROMISE, and FAITH”. For God has enabled all of us to be mighty warriors in the lives of our children.

We have each been given a Power of Prayer to intercede for our children, a Hope of Happiness for their lives, a Faith for their Future Callings, Patience for Peace within our homes, Wisdom for the Way in which we should lead them, Promise as Partakers in Eternal Salvation with our children, and Love for a Lifetime that lasts forever!

Dear Father,

May we never take for granted the gifts we have been given, that are of eternal value. May we al­ways acknowledge you as the giver of these gifts, our precious children. Help us always measure their value ac­cording to your standards and see them through your eyes of hope and love. Grant us wisdom to guide, strength to endure, love to lead, and patience to perform our daily tasks. I pray that your love would continually flow through every mother and that the expectations for our children be that which you have ordained them to be. To you, dear Lord, we give all the praise and glory for these gifts you have entrusted to us. Amen

All scripture references taken from the Comparative Study Bible, Revised edition. Copyright ©1999 by the Zondervan Corporation. Lists on Wise and Foolish references were taken from the Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible, Copyright ©1963 by 1991 Finis Jen­nigns Dake, New Testament portion (with Daniel, Psalms, and Proverbs) Copyright ©1961, 1989 by Finis Jennings Dake.

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