THE APPLE PRESS May 11, 2014 They looked down at the baby in her arms. The first human child they had ever seen. He was beautiful. It was exciting. Yet it must have terrified them. How do you care for a baby? She had no mother to clue her in as to what to expect. No one gave Eve a baby shower. She didnt have a supply of disposable diapers, or otherwise, either. She had no baby clothes. No blankets or pacifiers. No crib or high chair—just fresh air, green grass and plenty of animals and birds watching the events of Cains birth. Talk about challenges! There was no one there experienced in child care to give them advice. That is, no one but God. (Cant you see His smile as He fondly looks down at the baby boy – His first grandchild?) But God is enough. He never leaves His children wondering what to do. Ask. He will supply the answers. Eve, the very first mother,as she gazed at her baby, must have had a rerun in her memory of that day in the Garden when God told the serpent that the seed of woman would crush his head. Was this precious baby boy the answer to that promise? A second son was born to Eve. Abel is named as the first prophet. We dont know much about him, except that he offered a sacrifice to God which pleased Him. Evidently, by now Eve had figured out that her firstborn was not the one who would crush the serpents head. You know the story. Cain brought sorrow to his mother, when in anger and jealousy he killed his younger brother Abel. God sent Cain away. How would you feel if you were the mother? All your hopes were dashed as one son is sent away because of his disobedience to God, and the second son lies dead in the ground. We do not know how many children Adam and Eve produced. The Scriptures say they had other sons and daughters. After Abels death, God blessed her with another son – Seth. The way she speaks of him Im quite certain she knew that this son would play a role in defeating the serpent. Genealogy proves the point. Luke 3:23-38. “ ...of Seth, of Adam, of God.” Joseph and Mary looked in wonder at the infant lying in the manger. The shepherds came, bearing the news the angels had shared with them. Yes, Mary remembered the visit she had received from Gabriel before Jesus was conceived. Amazement filled her soul. How could a simple young woman get all this attention from heaven? What would happen next? You know this story, too. When they took Jesus to do all the Law required for newborn babies, Simeon told her “This child will cause many in Israel to fall and to rise, he will become a sign whom people will speak against, moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.” And about thirty-three years later, this mother, too, felt the agony of watching her first-born son die—not just any death, but the death as a criminal. Who could handle seeing one they love and know is innocent go through such torture? Yet even here, the love of God blessed Mary. As He hung on that cross, with pure love in His eyes, He gave His mother into the care of one He knew would treat her with utmost love and respect. Jesus loved His mother. Two mothers, centuries apart, but joined together in Gods purpose of spreading love throughout the world—of bringing reconciliation between fallen humanity and God. What greater honor could He show mothers than this? Think about it. First, a mother in a garden with no clue as to the future, yet God used her story as the beginning of His communication with mankind. Second, a simple young woman is used by God to bear His own Son. This story opens the New Testament and reveals Gods plan of redemption to all mankind. Mothers, listen up. God has a plan for you. Be the arms that carry His love wherever you go. Corinne Hill “For God so loved the wordl that he gave is only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.” John 3:16 MY MOTHERS HANDS The world has many wonders, Gods many vistas grand, But none can ever rival The beauty of Mothers hands. Wilma Heffelfinger A few years ago, when my mother was visiting, she asked me to go shopping with her because she needed a new dress. I dont normally like to go shopping with other people, and Im not a patient person, but we set off for the mall together nonetheless. We visited nearly every store that carried ladies dresses, and my mother tried on dress after dress, rejecting them all. As the day wore on, I grew weary and my mother grew frustrated. Finally, at our last stop, my mother tried on a lovely blue three-piece dress. The blouse had a bow at the neckline, and as I stood in the dressing room with her, I watched as she tried, with much difficulty, to tie the bow. He hands were so badly crippled from arthritis that she couldnt do it. Immediately, my impatience gave way to an overwhelming wave of compassion for her. I turned away to try and hide the tears that welled up involuntarily. Regaining my composure, I turned back to tie the bow for her. The dress was beautiful, and she bought it. Our shopping trip was over, but the event was etched indelibly in my memory. For the rest of the day, my mind kept returning to that moment in the dressing room and to the vision of my mothers hands trying to tie that bow. Those loving hands that had fed me, bathed me, dressed me, caressed and comforted me, and most of all, prayed for me, were now touching me in a most remarkable manner. Later in the evening, I went to my mothers room, took her hands in mine, kissed them and, much to her surprise, told her that to me they were the most beautiful hands in the world. Im so grateful that God let me see with new eyes what a precious, priceless gift a loving, self-sacrificing mother is. I can only pray tat some day my hands, and my heart, will have earned such a beauty of their own. Bev Hulsizer Every wise woman builds up her home, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. Proverbs 14:1 “Somebody”said a Mother is an unskilled laborer. “Somebody” never gave a squirmy infant a bath. “Somebody” said you know how to be a Mother by instinct. “Somebody” never took a three-year-old shopping. “Somebody” said that “good” Mothers never yell at their kids. “Somebodys” child never set a baseball through a neighbors picture window. “Somebody” said a Mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in books. “Somebody” never had a child stuff beans in her nose. “Somebody” said a Mother always adores her children. “Somebody” never tried to comfort a colicky baby at 3 am. “Somebody” said a Mother can do her job with er eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back. “Somebody” never organized seven giggling Brownies into a cookie-selling brigade. Author Unknown Give “Mom” an inch and the whole family goes on a diet.
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 00:16:16 +0000
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