TREASURE MOTHERS

MAY 11, 2014 

A Spanish proverb reads "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.” – Anon 

History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day in the United States was first proclaimed in 1870 in Boston by Julia Ward Howe, and Howe called for it to be observed each year nationally in 1872. As originally envisioned, Howe's "Mother's Day" was a call for Pacifism and disarmament by women. Early "Mother's Day" was mostly marked by women's peace groups. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War. In 1907 Mother's Day was first celebrated in a small private way by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia, to commemorate the anniversary of her mother's death two years earlier on May 9, 1905. Jarvis's mother, also named Anna Jarvis, had been active in Mother's Day campaigns for peace and worker's safety and health. The younger Jarvis launched a quest to get wider recognition of Mother's Day. The celebration organized by Jarvis on May 10, 1908 involved 407 children with their mothers at the Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton. The following campaign to recognize Mother's Day was financed by clothing merchant John Wanamaker. As the custom of Mother's Day spread, the emphasis shifted from the pacificism and reform movements to a general appreciation of mothers. The first official recognition of the holiday was by West Virginia in 1910. A proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day was signed by U.S. president Woodrow Wilson on May 14, 1914. A tradition calls for the wearing of carnations on Mother's Day—a red one if one's mother is alive, and white if she has died.

 FOR THEIR DILIGENCE (PROVERBS 31:10-19)

10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.

14 She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.

15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. 

VERSE 10: 

“’Virtuous’ here means a woman of character, a woman of strength, a woman of real ability. She is not to be a shrinking violet. She is not to be like Whistler's mother, always sitting in a rocking chair. (A whimsical story is told that Whistler painted another picture of his mother, because he came in one day and found her sitting on the floor and said to her, "Mother, you're off your rocker.") I don't think you will find many mothers sitting in rocking chairs. They are busy. This is the picture of a busy mother: “

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee 

VERSE 11:

·        He has complete trust in her that she will not betray him in anything.

VERSE 12:

·        The thought from verse 11 is illuminated here in this verse.

·        Behind every successful man……..

VERSE 13:

·        With pleasure she willingly looks for the materials that she can make use of, perhaps to sell and bring additional income to the home.

VERSE 14:

·        She learns her way about making good purchases for the home in order to provide the best for her home.

VERSE 15:

·        This does not mean that she is a workaholic; but, she is not lazy.

·        She is diligent to make sure that all is done and everyone is provided for.

VERSE 16:

·        This is similar to the sentiment of verse 13.

·        She is knowledgeable of ways to reduce the cost of the household by making provision from her own efforts.

VERSE 17:

·        She also takes good care of herself by getting the proper amount of rest, exercise and nutrition to remain healthy. (God permitting)

VERSE 18:

·        She makes sure that all of her efforts return good, and she keeps up to date on the latest technology concerning the things that she does.

VERSE 19:

·        She knows her work and she does it well. 

FOR THEIR COMPASSION (PROVERBS 31:20)

20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. 

VERSE 20:

·        She also has compassion to reach out to those who are suffering from need.

·        She is obedient to God’s commands that we should help provide for the needy among us. 

FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO FAMILY (PROVERBS 31:21-29)

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." 

VERSE 21:

·        She has made sure that all of her families clothing needs are met.

VERSE 22:

·        She is able to make her own clothes and nice ones too.

VERSE 23:

·        Because of her, her husband reputation is much enhanced.

VERSE 24:

·        She uses her skill to make things to sell.

VERSE 25:

·        She is highly respected and knows the future is in God’s hand.

VERSE 26:

·        She has gained wisdom and is ready to teach others.

VERSE 27:

·        Her house in in excellent order and she is diligent to keep it that wayh.

VERSE 28:

·        Her husband and children are well aware of the great blessing she is and is not silent about praising her.

VERSE 29:

·        A beautiful expression of her worth. 

FOR THEIR DEVOTION TO THE LORD (PROVERBS 31:30-31)

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates. 

VERSE 30: 

“The true value of a wife is measured only by that which is enduring, according to the moral background…”

Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 

“What shall give us power and influence for good? Fearing the Lord. This makes the highest and grandest type of woman. (Uriah Davies, M.A.)”

The Biblical Illustrator 

VERSE 31: 

“This may be a prayer. May she long enjoy the fruit of her labors! May she see her children’s children…”

“Let what she has done be spoken of for a memorial of her; let her bright example be held forth in the most public places.”

Adam Clarke’s Commentary of the Bible

 

 A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. 

The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she'd have children if she had it to do over again. "Yes,” she replied. "But not the same ones.” - Reader's Digest, contributed by David Finkelstein  

My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me about RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home." 

My mother taught me about WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand. 

August is the most popular month in which to have a baby, with more than 360,000 births taking place that month in 2001.

Tuesday is the most popular day of the week in which to have a baby, with an average of more than 12,000 births taking place on Tuesdays during 2001.

In the United States, between 1997 and 1999, 539 births were reported among mothers over age 50. 

A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?' He answered, 'Call for backup.'