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Preaching On Mother’s Day
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Preaching On Mother’s Day
Photo credit: Phil Hearing (via Unsplash)
“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:1-4 NIV)
Introduction
If you like Mother’s Day, you can thank Anna Maria Jarvis.
If you dislike Mother’s Day, you can blame Anna Maria Jarvis.
If you find Mother’s Day problematic, you have much in common with Anna Maria Jarvis.
Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, was never self-serving. You see, Ms. Jarvis was never a mother herself. And the first official Mother’s Day event? She wasn’t even there.
The whole idea was a tribute to her own mother, and the seed for this idea was planted on a Sunday in 1876. One day in Sunday School, Ann Reeves Jarvis led a prayer in the presence of her daughter. She included these words:
I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.
And so…after years of caring for her sickly mother, Anna Maria Jarvis decided to fulfill her mother’s wish. Three years after the death of her mother, Anna organized a day of tribute to her mother and all mothers at their home church in Virginia. She herself did not attend the tribute, but 500 people did. Anna sent a telegram and 500 white carnations for everyone who attended the service.
So the never-a-mother mother of Mother’s Day intended to celebrate the life of her own mother. And she believed only simplicity and sentimentalism should adorn such a tribute.
But then Americans did what we do best. We commercialized the heck out of it. And Jarvis was horrified. Did you know the founder of Mother’s Day organized a petition to try and have Mother’s Day rescinded? Did you know she ended up in a sanatorium, with the bills paid for by people associated with the floral industry and greeting-card companies?
So, it’s ok to have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day. Jarvis did.
And so do I. Especially as a preacher. Especially at church.
In Appreciation
The positives are obvious.
There will be many in our congregation celebrating their wives and mothers, and we are told to “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Rom 12:15). Much as attending someone’s birthday celebration, it would be uncouth to greet those held in honor with a scowl. “If one member is honored,” wrote the Apostle, “all rejoice together” (1 Cor 12:26).
And is motherhood not something to be both celebrated and deeply appreciated? We lived through early waves of feminism that disparaged motherhood as being the bastion of women’s subjugation in a world ruled by men. Not long ago, I saw a Today Show episode focusing on a mother of two adolescents who—with no perceivable problems in her marriage—“discovered” she was far happier being alone. So she left her family and wrote a book about it, encouraging others to do the same. This was not always the feminist mantra. And I am grateful for more recent waves of feminism emphasizing “mothering as empowerment” rather than the choice of the powerless. The stats consistently show that most mothers find the task rewarding, children form bonds with mothers that affect them positively for the rest of their lives, and society is better for it. And when you consider what mom actually does, you can’t help but rise up and call her blessed.
For many. Maybe for most. But this is not the rosy story for all. Far from it.
In Sorrow
Church is a place for everyone. Everyone. And when you consider this important fact, you just might appreciate the hesitancy of some to even attend church when Mother’s Day comes around.
There is the 16-year-old who had an abortion last week. Behind her sits the 22-year-old, married for 2 years, and already experiencing her second miscarriage. On the other side of the sanctuary is the 38-year-old who has been trying to get pregnant for decades. Decades. To no avail.
There is the woman with no children sitting beside her, having buried her twins who died in infancy. There is the 68-year-old who, for the first time today, will not be celebrating Mother’s Day with her mother; she buried her just over a month ago.
Then you have all the victims of abuse at the hands of their mother.
What to do. What to say.
And I didn’t even mention the angst some preachers feel about letting a commercialized, cultural holiday—America’s civic religion—dictate the messaging for the people of God.
Some Suggestions
If you have little to no control over the service, may I suggest focusing on the positives of what you encounter. God is in this place. There is good to be celebrated.
If you do have some say in the service, seek to perform a balancing act.
If you choose to preach a positive sermon on the joys of mothering, perhaps open with a recognition of how difficult this day may be for some. That for those who sit in mournful silence, you too are a welcome child of God. And we, the congregation, mourn with you.
Root your sermon not in your experience of mothering—however good—but in the story of God who made all humans in his image, and thus all good “mothering” traits that we wish to praise are found first in God.
If you give a lesson about the difficulties of this day, perhaps offer an encouraging word at the start for those faithful mothers who are being honored by their families, and how wonderful it is to have (or have had) parents who serve as exemplars of Christ to us.
Root your sermon not in your experience of mothering—however bad—but in the story of the cross where all humans experience loss, victimization, and pain. Remind the congregation that evil, pain, and loss are real—so real that our Lord experienced it. But that His burden is our blessing, for one day all wrongs shall be righted, and all sorrow shall be turned into joy, for he will revenge the victims, he will heal all wounds, and he will mercifully fill all creation with the love we so desperately long for.
Perhaps you could choose to forgo the traditional Mother’s Day sermon. If you are in a series, stick to your series. If you are a lectionary preacher, find a text that speaks a word for this time and place in a world with many more concerns for those anxious hearts in the audience. But if you do, remember there are those who chose this day as one of honor, and be mindful of that in your lesson. Remember there are those suffering today, and be mindful of that in your lesson.
In every way, may you on this day—as you do every day—love the brothers and sisters. May we love in word and deed. May we rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. And may our love be genuine.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (Rom 15:5-7).
What’s New On The West Side? Inspiring Classes
All new classes going on at West Side. We offer learning communities before worship (at 8 AM), after worship (at 10:30 AM), on Sunday evenings, Wednesday mornings, and Wednesday evenings. We are a teaching church! Here are just some of our offerings:
Who Is This God We Worship? Teacher: Si Tilton. Sundays | 8 AM | in the chapel.
The Holy Spirit: Our Lord & Giver of Life. Teacher: Nathan Guy. Sundays | 10:30 AM | Room 209.
Bible Lands. Teacher: Dutch Hoggatt. Sundays | 10:30 AM | Auditorium.
The Bible Through Art. Teacher: Professor John Keller. Sundays | 10:30 AM | in the chapel.
What The Bible Says About… Various Teachers. Young Married Class. Sundays | 10:30 AM | Room 208.
Monday Morning Coffee Time. Casey MacDonald & Mark Gregory. Mondays | 9:00 AM | Facebook & YouTube.
Stream our auditorium class Sunday at 10:30 AM (CST) on facebook or YouTube. If you are in the middle Arkansas area, we would love to have you join us in person. I’ll save a seat for you.
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My name is Nathan Guy, and I serve as the preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. I am happily married to Katie and am the proud father of little Grace. You can find more resources on my website over at nathanguy.com. Follow me: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.