Introduction: I noticed in last week's news that a California private religious school has canceled Fathers' and Mothers' Days, because some children have only a single parent, and some children have two parents of the same sex. So in order not to offend these children and their parents, the school teachers must not say anything about Mothers' Day or Fathers' Day.

Fortunately, the principal there cannot erase a national holiday, which is what Mothers' Day is. Mother's Day was started by a lady named "Anna M. Jarvis," a pastor's daughter, from Grafton, W. Virginia. She lived from 1864 to 1948. She got the idea for mother's day when her own mother died in 1907. At a community wide memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, she gave a carnation (her mother's favorite flower) to each person who attended. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity across the country. On May 9, 1914, the Congress of the United States made it an official national holiday, and President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill, and proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

There are many illustrations in the Bible about good and wonderful mothers, and the benefits that they bring into our lives.

I. No one cares for you like your mother, from infancy to old age.

A. I Samuel 2:19 tells us about the boy Samuel and his mother's care for him.
B. Judges 5:28 tells of a mother watching out the window to see if her grown son would be home safely from the war.

II. Mothers are God-given sources of advice and guidance in life.

A. Proverbs 1:8, and Proverbs 31:1-31, an entire chapter from a mother's advice!
B. Your mother may even help you find a wife or a husband (Genesis 21:21).

III. Many a mother has led her children to faith in Christ (2 Timothy 1:5).

Conclusion: A few people have had bad mothers, but most of us had mothers, or still have mothers, who loved and cared for us. They are worthy of our honor and gifts. Let's be careful to bless them, not only on Mothers' Day, but on every day of the year. Amen.