070513 John 14:22-29 Sent by Him - A Mother's Day Message

Jesus promises that God the Father will send the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Good Friend, the Holy Spirit to teach us everything and remind each of us all that He tells us. It’s appropriate on Mothers’ Day to use this promise as a parallel to the Jewish proverb, which says: “God could not be everywhere, and so he made mothers.” Today’s message is for girls and women – regardless of age and regardless of whether you have been or will ever be a biological mother to a child.
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had four sons. They all became ministers. At a family reunion, a friend asked one of the sons, “Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?” While the son looked at the father, he replied, “Mother!” There are women in my life who preach to me as a mother, even if they are not my biological mother: Frances Jane Smith from Haleyville, Alabama.
Annemarie and I spent the past two days with our 26-year-old son in the hospital after his leg operation. His pain during physical therapy shortly after orthopedic screws were implanted was tremendous. This harkened back to our eldest daughter’s 6 corrective leg operations, when she was much younger. The contrast of Annemarie’s visit with our other children and grandchildren in various stages of childhood and parenthood revealed how important are loving mothers who are sent be Jesus and who keep His word by loving Him and all His children.
Scientists at Emory and other primate laboratories create substitute mechanical mothers for baby monkeys to give and receive love. Wire-frame machines are covered with foam rubber, then terry cloth for added softness. An artificial breast provides milk, and a light-bulb heating system gives warmth. Psychologist Harry F. Harlow of the University of Wisconsin thinks that baby monkeys are happier than they would be with their real mothers, because the machine mothers are always soft, warm, tender, and patient. She never scolds or strikes the infant in anger.
Louise Joy Brown was the first born in 1978 from by in vitro fertilization. Her younger sister was also conceived this way. Thousands have been conceived in this manner since then. But Louise chose to have her child “naturally.” My brother and his wife chose to adopt four children instead of pursuing artificial fertilization after her two-entopic ovarian pregnancies and the loss of those two children.
Our Book of Discipline says that the family is “the basic human community through which persons are nurtured and sustained in mutual love, responsibility, respect, and fidelity. We affirm the importance of both fathers and mothers for all children. We also understand the family as encompassing a wider range of options than that of the two-generational unit of parents and children (the nuclear family), including the extended family, families with adopted children, single parents, stepfamilies, and couples without children. We affirm shared responsibility for parenting by men and women and encourage social, economic, and religious efforts to maintain and strengthen relationships within families in order that every member may be assisted toward complete person-hood.” There is no belief in the scripture or our church doctrine that supports substitute non-human mechanical parents.
Stories of a mother’s love abound in daily lives as well as in recorded history: Widow Lillian Way refused to prosecute her adult son for gambling away $13,000 of her life savings on a horse race, but at least the son mortgaged his house and took her in to live with his children and grandchildren, when she pleaded that God would forgive her sins and allow her to forgive her son’s sin.
A tombstone in New Orleans records the legal precedent that a daughter’s estate was administered instead of the mother’s when they both drowned together, because the mother was presumed to hold the daughter in a place of safety to the very end. Princess Alice died from kissing her child’s diphtheria infested lips after the child – gasping and struggling for her life – cried out “mama, kiss me.” David Lloyd George lived to become Prime Minister of England, because his mother wrapped all her outer clothing around his small child’s body in the midst of a snowstorm, thereby causing her eminent death.
Paraphrase of Proverbs 31 (based on The Message, by Peterson) to all women who would be mothers:
A good mother is worth far more than diamonds. Her husband and children trust her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats her loved ones generously all her life long. Here are some examples of what the woman who would be a good mother to others might do:
She might sew or shop around for the best clothing for others. She could be like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She might up early preparing meals for others and then organize her day (and others’ day as well). She could save money and buy land, then plant a garden.
Here’s a life in the day of a woman who would be a good mother:
First thing in the morning, she would dress for work, roll up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She could make her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Ideally, her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. Her clothes are beautiful and last a long time. She always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it with kindness. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
Let us read Proverbs 31:29-31 as our closing prayer ended with “in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen:”
Dear Heavenly Father, parent who teaches all parents to be your children who encourage our mothers and all women with these words (please read): "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates,” in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.