HOW ARE MOTHERS LIKE GOD?
(I John 4:8,10a)
(May 9, 2004)

What is love? Well, an old story tells that an angel slipped out of heaven and spent the day roaming around the earth. As the sun was setting he decided he wanted to take along some mementos of his visit. He noticed some lovely roses in a flower garden, picked the most beautiful, and made a bouquet to take back to heaven.

Looking a bit farther, he saw a beautiful little baby. Its smile was even prettier than the bouquet of roses, so he took that, too.

He as about to leave when he saw the mother’s love, as she cared for the little baby in the cradle, and he said to himself, “Oh, that mother’s love is the prettiest thing I have seen on earth; I will carry that, too.

He winged his way back to heaven, but just outside the pearly gates he decided to examine his mementos to see how well they had made the trip. The flowers had withered, the baby’s smile had faded, but the mother’s love was still there with all its warmth and beauty. He discarded the withered flowers and the faded smile, gathered all the hosts of heaven around him, and said, “Here’s the only thing I found on earth that would keep its beauty all the way to heaven—it is a mother’s love.

A mother’s love, like God’s love is unconditional.

“If Love” is conditional love, it says, “I love you . . .
    If you do what I ask you to;
    If you make good grades;
    If you wear the right clothes;
    If you help me with the housework;
    If you don’t hassle me with your problems;
    If you make me look good.

“Because Love” is conditional love too. It says, “I love you . . .
    Because you were “most-valuable-player” in last week’s game;
    Because you are popular;
    Because you obey;
    Because you never get into trouble
    Because you are pretty;
    Because you are a lot like me.

“Anyway Love,” on the other hand, is unconditional love. It says, “I love you . . .
    Anyway, even if you ignore me when I talk;
    Anyway, even if you get angry with me;
    Anyway, even if you do like Rock Music;
    Anyway, even if you wrecked the car;
    Anyway, even if you flunked math;
    Anyway, even if you don’t understand my generation.
    Yes I love you anyway . . . because that’s how God loves me.

A mother’s love is like God’s love; but how do mother’s show their love?

I. FIRST, A MOTHER REMEMBERS.

God says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? . . .” (Isa. 49:15).

A mother never forgets her children. Sometimes mohters are overlooked in the Bible stories, but a poet asked a good question. He said,

    Where was the mother of the prodigal son:
        On that day so long ago?
    What were her feelings?  And what were her thoughts?
    As she watched him turn to go?

    How many times in the dark of night
    Did the tears slide down her face?
    Did she get out of bed  And fall on her knees
    Just to pray that her boy was safe?

    How were the days when she just didn’t know:
    Was he alive? Was he warm? Was he well?
    Who were his friends?  And where did he sleep?
    Was there anyone there she could tell?

    But, oh, on that day when she looked down the road,
    As she had since her son went away,
    Did love unspeakable flood her soul?
    Did she cry?  What did she say?

    I think when the father had welcomed their son;
    And the boy had greeted his brother,
    The servants stepped back  As he entered the door—
    To the waiting arms of his mother.

II. SECOND, A MOTHER PROTECTS.

This is even true of animal mothers. Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matt.23:37).

A mother always take care of her children. She provides for their physical needs and shields them from danger.

The Jews have a proverb that says,

    “Since God could not be everywhere,
    He made mothers.”

III. FINALLY, A MOTHER COMFORTS.

God says, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you . . .” (Isa. 66:13).

A mother is empathetic. She is sensitive to her children’s hurts and concerned about their mental and emotional well-being.

Someone said, “Babies have three moods:

    One, just about to cry;
    Two, crying; and
    Three, just finished crying.”

That’s about right. All children need a lot of comfort.

CONCLUSION:

Yes, mothers are like God in the way they love unconditionally; in the way they remember and protect and comfort. They are also like God in that they are creative. A poet expressed it this way:

    TEMPLES

A Builder builded a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
“It shall never know decay;
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for aye!”

A mother builded a temple
With loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts,
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the Mother builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.

But, gone is the Builder’s temple,
Crumpled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the Mother builded
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a child’s immortal soul.
—Hattie Vose Hall