I pray for God’s blessings bestowed on our Moms, and may your Mother’s Day be sweet and special in every way. Hopefully on this Mother’s Day recognition will be made and encouragement given to the precious mothers of our land! There is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of a mother.

While we certainly want to magnify motherhood today, I recognize that this is also a very tough day for some of you… Maybe you had a mother who did not know how to love or care for you. Don’t dread Mother’s Day. Instead of focusing on your situation think of Mother’s Day as a time to reflect on, serve, and honor motherhood. Find ways to help other mothers who, like yours, need some parenting skills. Simply having children does not makes one a mother-which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician. The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a God fearing mother before her children. It does not have much glory to it; there is a lot of grit and grime.

As a parent myself I appreciate more and more the sacrifices my mother made for us. My Mom was a very strong woman she had to deal with 4 rough house boys. A while ago I ran into a lady that remembered my Mom from many years ago…she is much older now but she remembered her. She said you know we nurses at the Cooper Hospital in Camden knew your Mom as a regular in our ER unit. Many times my mom had neighbors drive us kids to the ER as she managed the best she could the blood and cuts. One time my brother almost lost his foot in a bike accident, another time he fell into a deep cellar pit and the cover plate spilt his head open, another time he was sick with spinal menageries and the events for Vito go on and on.

My sister put her fist through a window and had to get stitches and yes even me. My brother and I were fighting and I got stave in the back with a butcher knife but I didn’t even notice until mom had me take off my bloody shirt and she insisted I had to go to the hospital for stiches and on and on it went but Mom always managed. My Mom went home to heaven but she left me much to remember and much to give thanks for.

This passage is traditionally understood as being addressed to women, but is more accurately spoken by a woman to a man so he could know the character and potential character of a good wife before marriage, and value and praise his wife for her virtuous character. King Lemuel’s mother spoke to him about the qualities of a virtuous woman. In Proverbs 31 he gives a eulogy of her written in the form of an acrostic poem. This is also known as “An Alphabet of Wifely Excellence”. He communicates her character that…

I. She is An Impressive Wife, vv. 10-13

1. First, she is a faithful and supportive wife to her husband. What is reveals in this passage is six particular godly features. Her character as a wife, her devotion as a homemaker, her generosity as a neighbor, her influence as a teacher, her effectiveness as a mother, and her excellence as a saint is spelled out in an acrostic poem in which each of the last twenty ¬two verses teaches about her character.

2. His mother says that an excellent wife who can find her, her worth is far above jewels. That word could be pearls. It’s a generic word that means jewels, and in the ancient world gold and jewels were the measure of value. Her husband, we’re told, speaks of her as being the greatest among women.

3. Look at verses 11-12, we’re told a little bit about her husband. “She does well to him all the days of her life because they have grown close and aware, knowledgeable, and concerned for each other. And it says that her husband in that kind of vulnerability trusts her absolutely. He trusts her with his feelings, with his fears. He trusts her when he’s gone. This husband, who has received good from the trust he’s placed in his wife, is able to say, after the years of their marriage, “She is the best woman of all.” Note how hardworking she is in verse 13- 19.

4. She works with her hands from the delight of her heart. She loves her work. It is not drudgery, she loves it and the reason she loves it is for the pure goodness of it as we will see in a few moments. She is very industrious and hardworking for the sake of her family

II. She is An Impressive Example, verses 20-30

1. She cares for the needy she gives of her hard labor to the poor. She also has interests that take her into the community, where her influence is felt for good. She functions as a member of society with a keen sense of responsibility. She found her joy in providing clothing for the family. She found her joy in providing meals for the family.

2. Strength and dignity are her clothing.” If you’re going to be a teacher you start with character don’t you? Far more important than what you say is who you are. She is clothed with spiritual strength; strength here has to do with an unwavering, uncompromising resolve.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Now, she’s clothed herself and everybody else in her family with garments that are both useful and beautiful. But Lemuel sees not just the external, but the clothing of the inner person as well-she’s covered with strength and dignity.

3. Her children appreciate her and honor her. We frequently encounter horror stories about terrible mothers who destroy the lives of their children, but this woman’s children remember nothing but her goodness, that she poured her life into them. As adults they look back with praise, thanking their mother and blessing her name.

Illustration:

Susanna Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. Every week she spend one hour to discuss spiritual matters. She raised Charles and John who were used of God to bring blessings to all of England and much of America. Prayer is a powerful tool in rearing and caring for children. Sometimes mothers feel so frustrated because they think they are limited in what they can do for their children. Sometimes in the frustration of trying to teach their children mothers pray; they pray out of the feeling of disappointment, they can always pray–and your prayers are among the most cherished gifts of all.

III. She is An Impressive Builder
1. When we have godly wisdom with a tender heart we can labor for God more effectively and build something for his honor and glory.
Proverbs 14:1 “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”
It is important that we build our lives on the Word of God and use that as a platform to build our home. A woman has a great influence on the home and they can make it a blissful paradise or a living nightmare. A woman has an incredible opportunity to build something that is eternal in the home or something that will be destroyed by words and actions very quickly.
2. When a woman is focused on building a godly home she will labor tirelessly in that endeavor. Homes that are divinely crafted by the Spirit of God with the Word of God are the ones that will stand the test of time. We must never use the cheap materials of worldly psychology, manipulation or the bankrupt philosophies of this world. A house that stands must be built on a firm foundation. A godly mom will unselfishly love those in her family as she seeks to use the principles of God’s Word to train her children and support her husband.
3. When we love God and those in our family we will carefully labor over every detail. This is not a job were we are looking for shortcuts or overtime pay, but our reward is to see a completed project that will last for eternity. They are an eternal work that will radiate for the glory of God and inspire others. Moms if you are not sold out to this you need to surrender your lives to God, confess pride and selfishness and be the virtuous woman God desires.

4. Lastly, verse 30 talks about her relationship with God. Her relationships with people are excellent. Her use of her gifts is outstanding. And then the question about worship might well be asked. Is she someone who knows God well, who is deeply influenced by him? And the answer is yes. Verse 30-31: “What makes a woman excellent, what makes a person successful in life, is this deep reverence for our heavenly Father. This virtuous woman will be rewarded by the God she fears, and rewarded by what she has accomplished for her family and herself.

Conclusion:

This Proverb is God’s description of the Ideal Woman – and God has designed and created you, and He knows what will satisfy you and bring fulfillment to your life. Please, keep in mind this proverb wasn’t written to make you feel guilty or place unrealistic expectations on your life. It was written to build you up and show you your God-given potential.