In 1914, one hundred and nine years ago, the second Sunday in May was declared Mother’s Day. A day set aside to honor the women who gave birth, sacrificed, worked day and night, (often without help) to raise their children up to be responsible, productive adults. As we remember our own mothers today, let’s take a look at one woman who wanted nothing more than to be a mother.
There was a man named Elkanah who had two wives. The one wife was Peninnah and the other’s name was Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah didn’t. Every year Elkanah went out of the city to worship and bring sacrifices to the Lord. Every year he gave portions to Peninnah and her children, but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved Hannah in spite of the fact that she could not bear him children.
Every year, Peninnah made snide remarks to Hannah, just to make her feel bad about her situation. After several years of it, Hannah was provoked to the point that she cried and refused to eat. Feeling the bitterness deep in her soul, Hannah prayed and wept unto the Lord. She vowed that if the Lord would give her a man child she would give the child over to the Lord all the days of his life. Eli, the priest, saw Hannah praying and noticed that her mouth was moving, but no words were coming out. He assumed she must be drunk and spoke to her about giving up the wine.
Hannah told him she had drank no wine, but was a woman with a sorrowful spirit who had just poured out her soul to the Lord.
Eli told her, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant what ye have asked of him.”
In due time, her prayers were answered and Hannah gave birth to a son whom she named Samuel, which, among other things, means “Asked of God.”
Just as she had promised, once the child was old enough to be weaned, Hannah brought him to live with the Priest. Eli took the child and raised him in the knowledge of the Lord. Every year, Hannah made Samuel a coat and brought it to him. He grew up to become a great prophet and other sons and daughters were born to Hannah in the years that followed.
I have always loved this story of Hannah and the promise she kept. The best any mother can do for her children is to raise them up with the knowledge of God and the power of faith. As the old hymn says: “The Lord didn’t give you that child, not by a hundred thousand miles. He just thought you needed some sunshine, so He lent it for a while.”
I have recently witnessed growth in the Lord from my son who is sharing it with his son and trying to make a difference to those suffering without Jesus. Last week he reminded me of how I used to talk about Jesus in front of his friends and how he was embarrassed by it at times, but he thanked me for doing it.
This week, I received a special blessing when my 11 year old grand daughter asked me why I don’t like to hear people use cuss words. After my answer, she said, “I just wondered cause everybody be like using bad words and you are over here like: ‘I just love Jesus.’
The next day she looked at me and said. “Let me stare into your soul,” and she gazed into my eyes. Suddenly she giggled. “All I see,” she said, “is Jesus!”
What mama or grandma wouldn’t be blessed by those words? I hope you all are blessed beyond measure this Mother’s Day and every day. Have a happy one!