Loving a Child in the Making

“ Loving a Child in the Making”

Writing a Mother's Day sermon is difficult for 2 reasons... 1.) for me—not a parent, not a mother... I can only speak from the perspective of a child, loved by a mother, and as an outsider, one day hoping to be a parent...

2.) We may all readily recognize that Mother's Day is a special time when we can recognize together the important work and sacrifice of mothers. It is a day to celebrate the wonderful gift of motherhood. But Mother's Day cannot pressupose/assume that every child and every mother has the same experience. For some, Mother's Day can be painful.

There are those who are mothers not by choice, but by accident.
There are those who can never become mothers.
There are those who have had traumatic and painful experiences because of their mothers.

We must remind ourselves that speaking about mothers is not always a welcome idea to everyone. I am cognizant and sensitive toward that; I understand that could be a reality in our congregation.

Thus it is my hope to speak generally about the beautiful possibility of motherhood. No matter the imperfect lives we live, no matter the pit-falls and disappointments we experience, motherhood in its purest form is something valuable, something worth noting. So Mother's Day is a time to be sensitive to those who understand mother's differently, but also to celebrate together the joyous possibility, the great responsibility, and the wonderful ideal that is motherhood.

We all have our ideas of what it means to be a mother:
A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: " My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word “Mother.”

Some see a mother as a cleaner or a tidier.

Some see their mother's as exalted deities above reproach:
A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."

No matter what we think of mothers, I hope we can all admit that mothers have tremendous impact, tremendous influence, and tremendous responsibility. It's often said that to become a mother is quite easy, but that being a mother is very hard. With motherhood there are many joys, many sorrows, and many moments of self-discovery.

I am sure there are many opportunities for you to hear just how a mother should act, or maybe ten ways to successful parenting, but honestly I believe that there are no cookie-cutter formulas for motherhood which will guarantee perfect children or the perfect life. Many good mothers will be disappointed with the poor decisions of their child or children. Some inattentive, indifferent, or neglectful mothers may find their child or children to be upstanding and respectful.
Being a mother is not so much about making a child lovable as it is about loving a child in the
making.

Each child is pre-disposed to certain behaviors by virtue of their genetic personality type (just how they are born). Some children are born rebellious, others born obedient. But children are also shaped by a variety of outside influences. Some children may be able to make good and forthright decisions despite poor parenting. Other children, no matter how excellent their parents were, may still make short-sighted and harmful decisions. There is just no formula for perfect results in parenting, in being a mother.

There are a few traits, however, that all mothers who call themselves “Christian” should seek after: discipline for their child(ren); joy for their child(ren); and hope for their child(ren).

1. Discipline
“The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Proverbs 29:15

Mothers have a responsibility to discipline their children. This does not necessarily imply physical discipline or a type of physical discipline, but it does imply the discipline of love: teaching consequences and correcting harmful patterns. The point of parental discipline is to teach self-discipline, to develop a child toward making good and praiseworthy decisions for themselves.

A child left undisciplined can bring shame to his mother (because the child has brought shame to herself).

2. Joy
Psalmist writing about God:
Psalm 113:9 “He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!”

Mothers must be joyful for their children. Rejoice in the accomplishments, revel in the life of their child(ren).

When children see that they bring their parents happiness, just for being who they are, no matter what they do, then those children taste the Love and Grace of God. The Joy of a mother for her child provides an unmatched feeling of self-worth and value. Children need to be loved, just as we, children of God, desperately seek after the Love of a most Merciful God.

3. Hope
Proverbs 10:1 “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”
Mother's must have hopes and dreams for their children. Mothers have reason to be disappointed because they hope for the best. They desire to see their child grow into good men and women, into loving, caring, and driven people. Mothers have hopes, mothers have dreams, and mothers impart to their children the value of having hopes and dreams. Just as a mother's love must be unconditional, so too must the mother hope unconditionally for their children; that despite their decisions, they should still reach their goals, dreams, and aspirations.
Being a mother is not so much about making a child lovable as it is about loving a child in the making. That Love is one of Discipline, Joy, and Hope.

“The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes--it never tires--it endures through all; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother's love still lives on. “--Washington Irving

Our world needs the Discipline, Joy, and Hope of mothers for their children. It is in those moments of a mothers love, that children can taste the sweet Grace of God, the rich Love of our Most Merciful Lord. It is in the caring arms of a mother, in the tender instruction of her voice, and in the tears of her disappointments that children can find for themselves the beauty and hope of life.

As for you children in the congregation:
“Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching.” Proverbs 1:8

Amen.

Benediction:
Gracious God, you have brought mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and children into our world. We offer up to you our gratitude for the opportunity to share life with our families, and for the special privelage to live in a world where mothers exist. Not all mothers are great mothers, and not one mother is perfect, but we thank you for the gift of a loving mothers in our world, that we, as children, might have the chance to taste a portion of Your Powerful Love for us. We ask that we see the possibility and responsibility that motherhood brings, that we would be supportive husbands and respectful children; that we would be Loving, Disciplining, Joyful, Hoping mothers. May we all be sincere Children of God and may Your Love shine for us so that we might shine for you.
Amen.