[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 12th of May, 2024 - Mother's Day. A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]
25 Jesus' mother stood beside His cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and His favorite disciple with her, He said to His mother, “This man is now your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.
--John 19:25-27 (CEV)
“M” is for the million things she gave me,
“O” means only that she’s growing old,“T” is for the tears were shed to save me,“H” is for her heart of purest gold;“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,“R” means right, and right she’ll always be,Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER”,A word that means the world to me.
But did you know there is a second verse, and another chorus? The second chorus goes like this:
“M” is for the mercy she possesses,“O” means that I owe her all I own,“T” is for her tender sweet caresses,“H” is for her hands that made a home;“E” means ev’rything she’s done to help me,“R” means real and regular, you see,Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER”,A word that means the world to me.
Our mothers should mean the world to us, for without them we would not be in the world. Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere!
10 A truly good wifeis the most precious treasurea man can find!11 Her husband depends on her,and she neverlets him down.12 She is good to himevery day of her life,13 and with her own handsshe gladly makes clothes.14 She is like a sailing shipthat brings foodfrom across the sea.15 She gets up before daylightto prepare food for her familyand for her servants.16 She knows how to buy landand how to plant a vineyard,17 and she always works hard.18 She knows when to buy or sell,and she stays busyuntil late at night.19 She spins her own cloth,20 and she helps the poorand the needy.21 Her family has warm clothing,and so she doesn't worrywhen it snows.22 She does her own sewing,and everything she wearsis beautiful.23 Her husband is a well-knownand respected leaderin the city.24 She makes clothes to sellto the shop owners.25 She is strong and graceful,as well as cheerfulabout the future.26 Her words are sensible,and her adviceis thoughtful.27 She takes good careof her familyand is never lazy.28 Her children praise her,and with great prideher husband says,29 “There are many good women,but you are the best!”30 Charm can be deceiving,and beauty fades away,but a womanwho honors the Lorddeserves to be praised.31 Show her respect —praise her in publicfor what she has done.
--Proverbs 31:10-31 (CEV)
5:22 A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. 24 Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.25 A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27 Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.28 In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows he loves himself. 29 None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church.33 So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.6:1 Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2 “Obey your father and your mother, 3 and you will have a long and happy life.”4 Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.
--Ephesians 5:22-29; 5:33-6:4 (CEV)