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The Influence of a Mother! |
Right from the time of creation, mothers have played vital roles in molding and forming the next generations. The influence of a mother in the lives of the children and even husbands (either positive or negative) cannot be over emphasized. The continuity of lives cannot be achieved without the influence of a mother. We must be careful to know that motherhood is not determined by the number of children one has or does not have. A woman can find true joy of motherhood in her own assignment from God. Deborah was wife and named “a mother in Israel” but the scripture never recorded any child for her (Judg. 4:4, 5:7). Definitely from the name accorded her, she found the true joy of motherhood in the assignment God gave to her as a Prophetess, a leader and a motivator. Hannah, a woman of prayer and praise, (1Sam. 1:12-13) influenced Samuel her son to be prayerful too. Thus we saw Samuel, the Prophet continually taking every matter to the Lord in prayer even when he was troubled at heart, he still prayed. (1Sam. 8:6, 15:11). Having taken time to nurture and nurse her son, she used that period to convey her own spirit of deep reverence and piety to him. Thus, she prepared Samuel, the spiritual leader who turned the nation toward Yahweh for the great task God had for him. Jochebed, the mother of Moses was a woman of faith and courage! (Ex. 2:2-3) We have no doubt about the fact that her Godly teachings and influence sustained Moses in the palace of Pharaoh such that the scripture attested to the fact that he did not compromise his faith in the midst wealth, fame and power (Heb. 11:24-29). She was indeed used of God to prepare her children (Aaron, Miriam & Moses) for the great task God gave to each of them in leading His people out of bondage. “ To the contemporary woman, she is a model of an infectious courage to fear God instead of people and a firm faith in His promises and providence. Lois & Eunice, both mother and grandmother had taught Timothy from early age to be a man of faith (2Tim. 1:5), and also teaching him the Holy Scripture to make him “wise for salvation through faith” (2Tim. 3:15). These two are living testimonies that nothing in a mother’s life is more important than a personal and vibrant faith modeled before her children. There are others who failed in the spiritual nurturing of their children. Mothers like Lot’s disobedient wife (we were not told her name), who allowed her daughters to marry men of Sodom and later initiated incest with their own father (Gen. 19: 32-35). She is an example of those who started the right way but looked back because they are not completely ready to give up their old ways to follow God in obedience. (Lk. 17:31-33). Jezebel the wicked wife of Ahab transferred her wicked spirit to her daughter Athaliah, who murdered her own grandsons (legitimate heirs to the throne), to impose herself as queen (2Chr. 21:17). The wickedness of this mother and her daughter stained the pages of Israel’s history. They both model the escalation of evil influence that can work in the heart of a rebellious woman who determines to go her own way, rejecting God and grasping for her own power (2Chr. 22:3, 10; 24:7). In our contemporary world today, we have the “most admired women in history. Millions of people call her “saint,” even those who do not share her faith. Many call her “a miracle,” the epitome of Christian charity, a woman who finds God present among those who suffer the most. She abandoned herself to serve the neediest members of the human family. She is simply called Mother Theresa.” In gratitude to God for giving us Godly mothers today and in honor of you MOTHERS out there, I say HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO YOU!
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