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Many of the women in the Bible were mothers, such as: |
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a) |
Eve, who had a minimum of three sons. One was a murderer (Gen.
4:8), one was God fearing (Gen. 4:4), and from the other
developed the lineage of the Lord (1 Chron 1:1, spelt Sheth,
connected with Lk. 3:23-38). |
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b) |
Abi had a bad husband but a good son (Hezekiah) (2 Kgs. 18:2; 2
Chron. 29:1). |
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c) |
Abigail was beautiful and had wisdom (1 Sam. 25:1-42). |
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d) |
Dorcas was an individual who was full of good works (Acts
9:36-43) and the list goes on. |
It is a tragic commentary on the
world of selfishness and blatant
rebellion against the handiwork of
God by humanity that a helpless
little unborn infant can be torn
apart, limb from limb, without any
anesthetic. Unspeakable cruelty
which causes one to ponder the words
of scripture, “without natural
affection” (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3).
The ancient pagan nations burned
their children in giving them to
their gods. Today, Planned
Parenthood reports one abortion
every 95 seconds, that is 38 murders
an hour and 910 each day. This is
not the full figures.
An acrostic for the word “mother”.
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M |
Most valuable treasure
on the entire earth and
the many things which,
in love, she gave her
children. |
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O |
Oceans’ all pearls can’t
even value her worth. |
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T |
The priceless treasure
of love, feeling and
affection shown in the
tears she shed. |
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H |
For her heart of gold,
full of selfless love
and devotion that she
has for her child or
children. |
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E |
For her “eyes” which
looked upon you in pure
delight as you lay in a
pram or crib, the pride
which shone in her eyes
when she saw your
achievements, or the
hurt you saw when
disappointment was her
lot. |
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R |
Is for “reality”.
Mother is right and do
not argue with her. I
recall my dear mum was
very ill and was found
collapsed in her home,
it was my brother’s 25th
wedding anniversary.
There was to be a
celebration and mother
was not going to miss
it. My sister and I
said to mum, “The
doctors said you must
stay in hospital until
they find out what
happened”. We debated
with her, argued with
her, until she said, “I
am your mother”, and
that was the end of it
all.
Means “Right”, and right
she’ll always be. |
The Origin Of “Mother’s Day”
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Mother’s Day as we know it began in the early 1900’s but mothers
had been extolled centuries before. The Greek cult to Cybele
and the Roman festival of Hilaria celebrated a special day to
Mothers. However, if it had not been for the generosity of some
folk in Philadelphia, Miss Anna M. Jarvis, the Founder, would
have died in old age, penniless, and all alone in a charity
hospital. Her mother, Mrs. Ann Reeves Jarvis, died on the
second Sunday of May 1905 and that is why, in our part of the
world, it is celebrated on that day. It was her mother, Ann,
who determined to set aside one day a year to recognise not
mothers in general, but to honour ones own particular mother.
Two years after Anna’s mother died in 1905, Anna Jarvis invited
some friends to celebrate a mother’s day. The following year on
10th May 1908 the first “Mother’s Day” was held in St. Andrews
Church. In 1920 Governor William Glascock of West Virginia
officially proclaimed the first Mothers Day. While Anna’s
mother was alive she designated the carnation as the flower of
Mother’s Day. |
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Deeply disturbed by the merchandising
of Mother’s Day, Anna spent her money on preventing Hallmark
etc., from using it for profit, for she and her mother it was an
act of devotion individualised. To them, picking a card was an
empty gesture, and more ideal would have been a hand written
letter.
Her brother died in 1926 leaving what he considered sufficient
for her to live comfortable. However, due to multiple reasons
she received virtually nothing. In time her eyesight went and,
by the balance of people, she was just an old woman, now of no
interest. In time, a welfare worker came to see her and found
the old lady suffering from a nervous collapse and was sent to a
city hospital.
Providentially, a lawyer who had known her from childhood joined
with others to build a fund to move her to a private room in a
sanatorium. As word spread that the founder of “Mothers Day”
was penniless, they started to send contributions. The makers of
“Mother’s Day” cards made voluntary gifts, and some of the money
was used to build a memorial to Anna, the founder of Mothers
Day. She died after a long illness, 24th November 1941.
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A Mother’s Reminiscing Of Days Which
Are Past
A
book unheeded in her lap, she sits
with dreaming eyes
And
looks from out the window, at
distant hills that rise.
Yet
soon she crosses all the hills, and
finds a pathway straight
To
where her children clamour on the
fence beside the gate.
To
where her children hail her, with
shouts of wondrous glee,
Yet
still the book unheeded, lies open
on her knee.
And
far from out the window, bends the
sky in hazy blue,
And
she fares forth upon a road, that
leads the meadows through,
That
hurries down the city streets, until
she finds a door
Which
opens to her gentle knock, and then,
as oft of yore,
She
hears the laughter of her boy, she
sorrows when he grieves,
Yet
still the book is lying with her
hand, between the leaves.
And
now she goes another way, where
mountains touch the sky,
She
threads the forest fastness, until
she draws close by.
The
little cottage where her girl once
helped to make a home
Where, in the distance on the sea,
are gleams of upflung foam
And
for a while they speak of all the
joys which used to be,
Yet
still the book, unheeded, lies open
on her knee.
And
so she fares to sunset, while going
very far away
But
always in her haven, at the ending
of the day,
And
takes her book and idly, at open
pages peers
With
eyes that have the softness that’s
caused by many tears.
And
sometimes she will murmur low, and
sometimes she will smile,
Far
out and over all the land her heart
has been the while.
. . .
William D. Nesbit
Concluding Thoughts
Today we have an opportunity, not to
get from mother, but to give to her
the heartfelt love and gratitude
which she deserves. It may be with
flowers, with chocolates, making her
a dinner, breakfast in bed, or just
spending time with her, but why once
a year? While you have her and
while she can appreciate the love
given, give it while you can.
. . .
Rowan Jennings
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