Marriner’s Moment: Mothers Emerging Through Faithful Prayer – Pt. 1

How many times have we witnessed strong, buffed-up athletes on television and during the interview we see them wave and say, ‘Hi Mom! I love you!’ No matter how old we are or what station in life we find ourselves, mothers always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s been said that a mother carries a child inside her body for nine months, in her arms for three years, and in her heart for eternity. For many of us, our mothers remain in our hearts for eternity as well.

Tributes to mothers and the significant role they play in our lives do not negate or diminish the critical role fathers play in the lives of their children. However, in May, we celebrate Mother’s Day and those mothers emerging through faithful prayer.

Mothers’ Day is just one day out of the year set aside to honor and pay tribute to mothers and surrogate moms who have loved us when we were unlovable, punished us when we deserved it (or didn’t), and taken care of us – sometimes with nothing but ‘a hymn and a prayer’. There are moms who stayed up all night worrying about us, fretting over us when we were sick or disobedient, and supporting, encouraging and wiping away our tears when others ignored our needs and desires.

I understand that Mother’s Day is not a happy or celebratory time for everyone. There are those among us who have never had the good fortune and blessing of knowing a loving and faithful mother – for various reasons. To those individuals, days like Mother’s Day can be a heartbreaking and painful reminder of a significant life experience that went lacking.

And, there are some among us who grieve mothers who have passed away. To those individuals, the reminder of that void remains painful and causes sadness. However, there are also those among us that can always look to and honor women – who are not biological mothers that stepped in and stepped up – grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins and sometimes strangers – to fulfill the role of mother; women who supported, encouraged and prayed for us.

This month, we celebrate faithful mothers emerging through prayer!
”Peace and power.

© Dr. Melvin O. Marriner,
Grove Church
May 2017