My mom was from another generation. She went to a one-room schoolhouse for a portion of her life. Her family had an outhouse. There was really nothing in her story that would commend her to significance. She never occupied platforms in stadiums or worked on the other side of a lens. She didn’t have an imagination of social media and being an influencer. She didn’t even have the momentum of having a vibrant faith as a young adult. Then she met Jesus.
I truly can’t explain all that happened after that, other than as an observer. She attached a value to people. Not great groups of people, but individuals. She went to Heaven last July, and when we celebrated her life, multiplied thousands of people raised their hands and said, “My life was changed by Miss Betty.” The calls came from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and across Middle Tennessee. Everybody said the same thing: “I felt like I mattered to her.”
I want to ask you to consider choosing the truth in your life that way. Extend the hope of Jesus to other people. Let’s start by asking for God’s blessing upon the mothers in our lives:
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for our mothers. Thank You for their lives and for the gifts You have entrusted to them. Bless them today. Be attentive to the prayers they have prayed in the quiet times of the night. Lord, remember the sacrifices they have made—the times they put themselves further down the list, that they might show love and kindness and share their lives with those who needed it. Renew their strength. Watch over the seeds they have planted in the hearts of their children, and help those seeds bear fruit as their children grow and mature. May they see and experience Your faithfulness in the lives of their children and their families. Thank You for each mother, and help this Mother’s Day weekend be a time of joy, hope, and faith-filled discussions. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Before my mom graduated to Heaven, she invested her life in strengthening God’s Kingdom. Her efforts left us with legacy of faith that continues to impact the world in many ways—including through this ministry.
Never underestimate the significance of a godly mother. Be sure to take the time to encourage and support them. Their lives will influence their families—and those around them—for generations.
— Pastor Allen Jackson