I have witnessed the excitement that comes with a birth announcement.  Grandmothers-to- be jump up and down making sounds that I cannot describe except to say happiness and joy is spoken in an uninterruptible language.   Grandfathers or PaPas  beam with a smile that is second to no other experience.  At least the happy announcements I have seen can be described this way.  Normally this announcement was first made to the father by his bride and only fathers who have experienced it would understand this moment.  But it was not so in the case of Mary, Jesus’s mother.  She had not come together with Joseph, so she had no idea that she had conceived. Yet she was on the receiving end of this announcement from an angle informing her that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  WOW!!!!  She, no doubt, was truly a woman of favor that God would place in her body His only Son.   Only one woman had this responsibility and privilege to be the mother of the Son of God.  She was hand picked by God for this blessing and she was a faithful mother to the point of watching Him take His last breath upon the cross.

     Today, we honor moms for the faithfulness, dedication, love and all other words that could possibly describe them.  When I read the message and words the angle spoke to Mary,”O favored one,”  I know it was because she was being told as God’s choice for the woman to bear his Son.  But today I want mothers everywhere to know that you are favored by children that appreciate you for all that you do.  It was God’s choice to use you to raise the child He has given you.  God does not make mistakes as each and every child is a precious gift from the Him.  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalms 127:3 ESV    Mothers are continual reminders of the fact that God is the creator of life.  Genesis is clear in the creation account …… and as a woman, every time you give birth we are reminded of this fact.

     God told men,  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25 ESV   God has placed a great value upon the woman to be loved as Christ loved the church.   This value is felt by the woman when, as husbands, we show them love as God intended.   As husbands we are the example to our children of the love God intended to be displayed in every home.  Her children rise up and call her blessed: her husband also praises her. Proverbs 31:28 ESV  Children will follow the lead of the the father in honoring their mothers.   The greatest blessing you can do for your wives / mother or your children is to love them and bless them with the honor God has placed upon them as bearer of children to be raised to glorify Him.

      Children, do not let this day pass without showing honor to your mother.  One of the ten commandments makes this clear long before we had a special day called mothers day. Honor your father and your MOTHER, that your days may be long.  Exodus 20:12 ESV    We are reminded in the New Testament the importance of doing this.  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and MOTHER” ( this is the first commandment with a promise) that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.  Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV   It goes without saying we should do this everyday of the year, but I am thankful for this special day set aside to remind us in our busy schedules and lives that there is someone extra special that deserves honor for all the sacrifices she has made.

     To all the Mom’s in world, Happy Mothers Day.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David