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When Life Hurts: Motherhood
Scripture Lesson for the Day: Genesis 3:16: Other selected Bible passages
Cornerstone Text: “To the woman he said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children.’” (Genesis 3:16a, NIV).
Mother’s Day can be very painful to some. Is it a source of pain for you?
"The easiest part of being a mother is giving birth.... the hardest part is showing up for it each day...” (Erma Bombeck)
The Bible’s brokenhearted mother’s Hall of Fame:
Jochebed, The mother of Moses: A model of Faith!
“But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (Exodus 2:3, NIV).
Hannah, The mother of Samuel: A model of Sacrifice!
“And she made this vow: “O LORD Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime…” (1 Samuel 1:11a, NLT).
Rizpah, The mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth: A model of Protection!
“Then Rizpah, the mother of two of the men, spread sackcloth on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented vultures from tearing at their bodies during the day and stopped wild animals from eating them at night” (2 Samuel 21:10, NLT).
Mary, The mother of Jesus: A model of Courage!
“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1:38, NIV).
“...He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too’”
(Luke 2:34b-35, NCV).
What Is A Mother? By Katherine Nelson Davis
A mother is someone to shelter and guide us, to love us, whatever we do,
with a warm understanding and infinite patience and wonderful gentleness, too.
How often a mother means swift reassurance in soothing our small, childish fears,
how tenderly mothers watch over their children and treasure them all through the years!
The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness for any mistake, big or small,
and generous always in helping her family, whose needs she has placed above all.
A mother can utter a word of compassion and make all our cares fall away,
she can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter and make life delightful and gay.
A mother possesses incredible wisdom and wonderful insight and skill -
in each human heart is that one special corner which only a mother can fill!
Closing Challenge: God uses the brokenness and pain that motherhood sometimes brings to raise up Godly children. Mother’s allow your brokenness to be used to nurture God loving children! You are a model that your child will never forget!
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