Somewhere between the youthful energy of a teenager and the golden years of a women’s life, there lives a marvelous and loving person known as “Mother.” And even though there is another side of the mother, let us start off in hearing some phrases you may hear what a mother would say, but then again, maybe not!
“How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?”
“Just leave all the lights on...it makes the house look more cheery.”
“Let me smell that shirt—Yeah, it’s good for another week.”
“Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.”
“Well, if Timmy’s mom says it’s OK, that’s good enough for me.”
“The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It’s not like I’m running a prison around here.”
“I don’t have a tissue with me...just use your sleeve.”
“Don’t bother wearing a jacket—the wind-chill is bound to improve.” Interesting phrases…
With the most valiant attempt in giving mothers the full recognition they deserve, we also need to emphasize a just as important truth that although not all women were mothers of their own children, they were mothers in the lives of so many others, even total strangers. For the mothers with and without children, the women and mothers who has become an iconic beacon of a mother to many children from the most horrific background to the most loving. We will dive into the truth about Women who made a difference.
Rev. Billy Graham had a tremendous statement to make about mothers, “Scripture teaches that the mother is crucial to the family and in the home. The Christian family which we have known is an institution based on the love of one man for one woman and symbolizes Christ’s love for His Bride…The Church. Today, the definition of family has been stretched and somewhat distorted.” What a very true statement.
If you were really to think about it, Godly motherhood remains one of the great wonders of mankind as God foresaw the need for women. God anticipated the warm nature and qualities a mother would carry and need. When you look upon a Godly woman, you see all the good God has given to the woman for her to offer as a mother, wife, bride, mentor, patriot, a companion, and list endlessly goes on.
Then, if we would take time in noticing how women in the home help nurture and establish the Christian home, you will observe some of the best of God’s marvelous creation in all its glory. Then beyond the home, we find how Women Who Make a Difference in our world and serving our heavenly father. And remember, a mother is never childless while they serve God and our fellowman, no matter what the capacity.
In starting our journey today, we read from the book of Acts chapter 9 about a woman named Dorcas, which means ‘lovely thing’. In this story, we encounter a faithful disciple who helped others and who received the help of God when she was in her time of need. She not only gave so much to others, she did so without any regard for herself—ensuring others needs were met.
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. 37 But it happened at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the room upstairs; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
A tremendous miracle took place here. God’s love reached down by way of the Holy Spirit through a servant that made a huge impact on so many lives, all because she was willing to. While scripture does not give us too much detail about Dorcas, there is much to be learned from this story.
First and foremost Dorcas was declared a disciple. Giving her life to God, her dedication to serve others and the continuous effort in seeing others needs that came first. With the definition of disciple meaning learner, she followed that very well. And notice that when she died, all the garments she made for others was lifelessly laying before then, the people cried over her death. She was loved, thought of and most importantly, she made a difference by being a willing disciple—a follower of Christ.
In being a disciple, Dorcas was a great visionary. “Dorcas was always doing good and helping the poor.” She was full of good works and charitable deeds. She had it in her to always be ready and willing to serve others by serving God. It was part of who she was to be a Godly disciple. She saw the needs around her and made it her mission to help alleviate those needs. With all the strength she could muster at times with late night stitching and helping so many people, she never could turn down an opportunity to help someone in need.
As a women who made a difference, Dorcas left behind for all of us to remember and reflect upon, a Legacy to follow. Dorcas used her abilities to God’s glory, while being a disciple in spreading Gods love, good and cheer, to being a visionary, being a humble servant and all because she had a relationship with her heavenly father that she loved and cherished with all her being. What a model for women and men alike throughout the ages. What a miracle, what a sister in Christ she was.
Not only does Dorcas use her abilities to God’s glory, but she became a valiant teacher by leading by example—instead of wishing we had someone else’s gifts and abilities, Dorcas makes it very clear that all we have to do is use what gifts and abilities God has given each of us to serve faithfully and we will be greatly rewarded.
While it is true that not everyone has the same gifts, we all carry Godly gifts and abilities. There is no excuse that any of us can give to not serve, not be faithful, not become good and loving, all the while glorifying His holy name. IN looking into the women who make a difference, there are at least eight women of the bible who come to mind as being a true servant of Gods people while also being an iconic mother.
One of them was Moses sister Miriam. She lifted the spirits of the people by leading them in a song of rejoicing, lifting their spirits, giving them hope knowing God was with them. Exodus 5:21 says “Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.” She lifted up Gods name to Gods people. She was a inspiration to the people of all ages in that great multitude.
Another women we know about is Ruth. She put God first and as a result became an ancestress to King David which is in the lineage to Christ. Ruth was a highly dedicated and loving women who loved others tremendously, especially her mother-in-law Naomi, “For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” A bold and loyal servant.
Then we see Deborah, a righteous and faithful Judge of Israel. She gave God the glory of her wisdom and righteous justice she was directed to give for all Israel. Directed Israel in all kinds of matters in the interests of Gods justice. She helps lead the way towards a new path designed only to follow God, while being honored and cherished amongst all women.
Then there is Queen Esther, a women of profound strength. She risked her life to plead for her doomed people, and as a result was successful in saving them; all because she tried and called upon the name of the Lord as a true servant of God.
Now one special emphases I like to give is on the women that are called unknown. We know or hear about them, but never met them or even know their name. One such woman was a widow in Zarephath. In 1 Kings, she was described as a being obedient to Gods call and mission to the world during the time of the prophet Elijah. Not much else to say, except God knew her and she served the people of God.
Then we learned of another unknown woman that Jesus tells us who was a very obedient and faithful servant, that she gave all the money she had to the treasury of the Lord, two mites. She put God first…and self-last. Not much else to say about her, except God knew her and she served God and His people.
Then last but most assuredly not least, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Chosen by God to give physical birth to the King of Kings. God saw in her the valiant disciple of God, true worshiper, genuine woman of faith. I don’t think we can describe all of Mary’s wonderful traits as a chosen woman of God, but her pray and testimony, or what is also known as the song of Mary or the Magnificat, alone gives us insight what she declares to us as a willing obedient servant. My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Mary was a chosen mother of Jesus, whos spirit was full of life, her love expanded all horizons and with her testimony of obedience, it shines brightly to her faithful obedience to God. Its also worth mentioning that Mary’s Magnificat resembles Hannah’s pray we find in 1 Samuel as it quotes or appears to allude to a dozen other Old Testament passages.
In going back to the story of Dorcas, even though she was well known, obedient servant of God, she had died. Peter exercised his gift of God in not only raising Dorcas back from the dead, but fulfilling Gods request in knowing—God was NOT done with Dorcas; she had more work to do. Remember, Until we are present with God, we still have work to do.
In reflecting on my life, I remember my mother was nurturing to me especially when I was sick. Countless hours of stress, anxiety, pain and suffering she went through. Even though I can say my mother was a blessing to me as a child, there are many unfortunate souls that cannot exclaim such a statement. However each of us, not matter our background or experience, has had a woman in our lives that made a difference by word and deed with the loving touch as a mother would.
In closing I want to share with you a story.
D. L Moody used to tell the story of a man who came to him and said, “When the Mexican war began, I wanted to enlist. My mother, seeing I was resolved, said if I became a Christian I might go. She pleaded and prayed that I might become a Christian, but I wouldn’t. I said when the war was over I would become a Christian, but not till then.
“All her pleading was in vain, and at last, when I was going away, she took out a watch and said: My son, your father left this to me when he died. Take it, and I want you to remember that every day at 12 o’clock your mother will be praying for you. Then she gave me her Bible, and marked out passages, and put a few different references in the fly-leaf. I took the watch and the Bible just because my mother gave them. I never intended to read the Bible.
“I went off to Mexico, and one day while on a long, weary march, I took out my watch, and it was 12 o’clock. I had been gone four months, but I remembered that my mother at that hour was praying for me. Something prompted me to ask the officer to relieve me for a little while, and I stepped behind a tree away out on those plains of Mexico, and cried to the God of my mother to save me.” God indeed saved him, and after the Mexican war was ended, he said, “I have enlisted again to see if I can do any good for my Master’s cause.” What a wonderful story of a loving, praying mother.
For all the mothers, those who had dozens of children to those who never had, to those who lived a life with a loving mother, and those who found a mother from another, we all are impacted, marked and given love in some way by woman who made a difference in our lives, that we can call mother in some shape and form. Just as God made eve for Adam, God gave each of us a woman to be our mothers. God has a special place in our lives of a wholesome example of a Godly woman who made all the difference. Amen.