Mother's Day Message

Sunday, May 12, 2019

I had the chance to speak at my church for Mother's Day. I was a bit nervous but I was told it didn't show. I was told by a few that I did good. I just hope I gave someone something they can relate to or use as guidance. I hope it wasn't too much of "I've heard that before". My first scripture lesson, I kept it traditional but the second was different. 1 Thessalonians 2: 5-8. I wanted to focus on "nurturing".

Mother’s Day

1. Faith – A Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for

her life and follows His ways.

2. Marriage – A Virtuous Woman respects her husband. She does him good all the days of her life. She is trustworthy and a helpmeet.

3.  Mothering – A Virtuous Woman teaches her children the ways of her Father in heaven. She nurtures her children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go.

4. Health – A Virtuous Woman cares for her body. She prepares healthy food for her family.

5. Service – A Virtuous Woman serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit. She is charitable.

6. Finances – A Virtuous Woman spends money wisely. She is careful to purchase quality items which her family needs.

7.  Industry – A Virtuous Woman works willingly with her hands. She sings praises to God and does not grumble while completing her tasks.

8. Homemaking – A Virtuous Woman is a homemaker. She creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her.

9. Time – A Virtuous Woman uses her time wisely. She works diligently to complete her daily tasks. She does not spend time dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord.

Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards. Doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.

When I think about Mother’s Day the first thing that comes to my mine is Ephesian 31: 10 -31. After explaining all these character traits of a virtuous woman, I think about the Ladies of Mt. Pisgah. All the women who nurtured us as well as this church.  Ms. Naomi Jackson, Ms. Katie Bacote, Ms. Gussie Mingo, Ms. Rosa Bell Bennett, Ms. Laura Segars, Ms. Lula Graham, Ms. Dorothy Bevel, Ms. Mary Peterson, Ms. Oclevia James, Ms. Betha Hough, Ms. Catherine Ketter. I remember these women working and serving Mt. Pisgah.  I truly admire these women for their love of this church.  Isn’t it amazing how woman always seem to take charge of everything that needs to get done. Men are good with ideas but woman are great with getting things done. And a mother, a mother never gives up. She is always going to find a way to make it happen. I’m always in awe of the strength of a woman cause as hard as things get we always preserver. It’s like having superpowers. There is nothing like it. The love of a mother.  I know I’m not a perfect mom but my kids make me feel like I am the best thing ever. Like I can fix it all. Like I got all the answers, I can make it all better. That’s a hard achievement but because they believe that it make me feel special. A mother knows that giving up isn’t an option. These days and times I run across single moms who feel that need to rely on a support system. Its truly ok to have a support system but once you decided to bring life into this world it’s not all about anymore. Until that child is 18 or able to provide for themselves it is not about you. It saddens me to see a number of young moms neglecting their babies. As a mother I just thought we were all born to nurture. I thought once you have a child you know your responsibility is to care for that child. But I see that’s not the case. It was all good for me and my first born staying at home with my mom but when I was expecting my second born, I was like, I know I got to get out of here. I choose to have these babies and I couldn't expect my momma to take care of all of us, which I knew she would, but she raised me well. I was spoiled but I had to learn to be self-sufficient. I said that to say we as women have to always be aware of the power we have. We as woman have an underlying strength granted by God to do anything, to get through any situation as long as you have faith. My faith has sustained me through a very difficult time in my life. People were counting me out when I knew God had a plan for me and I was on his time. I sat home and slept for two years but I’m glad God allowed me that time to rest. I knew as a woman and a mother that the same way I got a good job and a car and a house before. I could do it again. That’s the strength I’m talking about but I know it’s by the grace of God I’ve been in my house for 12 years. Women we must open our hearts and minds to God to hear the plans he has for us. Life is chaotic at times, but we have to stop and listen to what God is saying to us. As I think about the ladies I mentioned earlier, their roles were more in the background but everyone knows the people in the back are the reason everything runs so well. I’d like to be more of a background worker but I was asked to consider speaking for Mother’s Day. I knew it was something I had to discern. My sister said, God has asked you to speak. So, I knew then I couldn’t say no. I answered the call of God because I love to Him and love to serve him. I don’t want anything or anyone keeping me from my blessings.  I want to follow in the ways of the Ladies of Mt. Pisgah to love serve and support my church.  The ladies of Mt, Pisgah possessed a power and strength reminiscent of queens. Elegant and poised but always remained in the background. Back then it was the way things were but it’s also what I choose. I truly feel my calling is church polity which is basically church law. As a Presbyterian Church we have a form of government that we are to abide by. It’s just like regular politics. As a member of Mt. Pisgah, I want to make sure we adhere to the Book of Order. We are all here to serve God and we need to remember that first. Second, we need to remember Mt. Pisgah and the vision Rev. T. J. James had for us and our community. We were a prominent fixture in the community. Every black kid in town went to school at Mt. Pisgah. I’d like to see Mt. Pisgah regain that presence and prominence in the community.

As mothers we need to make sure we are not caught up with work and life. Our children need our time and attention. Just because they got food to eat and a place to stay doesn’t mean they are being taken care of. It’s easy to identify what our daughters need from us. You can think back to your childhood and remember what you felt was lacking and try to do better. Raising boys, I think it’s our job to make sure we teach them love and how to respect for women. If we aren’t showing them love they are not going to know love or how to receive love. Today our young men are so lost and broken because mom was too tired or too busy to give them the love and attention they so desperately needed. That nurturing, giving, compassionate love of a mother. Now they’re in relationships that fail because they don’t know. Now you have straight ignorant individuals who chose to stay broken. You can’t win with them so don’t waste your time trying. You can’t fix him if he don’t think he has a problem. They are in denial. He must be willing to fix himself to be better for a relationship. Moms will let these failing relationships take over their life. Trying to fix it. They will become down, depressed and shutdown. Majority of the time they don’t even recognize it. They also don't realize how this behavior effects the children. Mother's need to be a presence in their child's life so that child can be present in his or her life. If not, it starts or continues a cycle of negativity that can lead our children down the wrong paths of life. They are yearning and wanting attention so badly they go get it from where ever they can. Mothers have a really hard job but don’t it make you feel proud. I know men get a little jealous cause moms get all the glory but they should feel just as proud. It’s your mother, wife or baby momma. She’s a good mother. You can poke your chest out a little too. We can all shine together. That’s the love of God. It’s what He intended. Now when we are really good moms. We are always busy working providing and taking care of everything and everybody.  Mothers need to take care of yourself first.  How can you do the work of a mother if you don’t have me time. I truly believe in a me time out.  Rest and peace to do whatever I want or simply nothing at all. Spend time with yourself. Relax your body and mind; have a talk with God. Share your pains, downs; whatever you need to relieve. Share your hopes and dreams. Praise Him and thank Him. Because whatever we are going through on a daily basis it could always be worse. Always be thankful because God’s grace and mercy always see us through. If you can’t be alone and spend time with you, who else would want to. I know some people feel the need to be amongst other people all the time. Myself personally I need a break, I can’t do too much peopling in one day. I have to recharge or else I won’t be any good for anything. Always take time for yourself so you can make time for God, your family and everything will follow fall into place.