From Our Minister: April 2008

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10, 27-31 (ESV) 

“Mommy!”

The cry echoes in our memories the way it resonated through our childhood homes.  This cry, whether for help or of victory, would send our mothers running.  We knew that mom would be there to rescue us from danger, to put food on the table, or to clean up our messy hands, faces, or bottoms!

“Mommy!” Isn’t it amazing that she came every time we called? Often, even before we knew we needed something, they were taking care of everything.

We remember our mothers everyday—often several times a day—with deep gratitude for their sacrifice, their unfailing devotion and their strong “encouragement” to succeed.  I’m sure for very many of us, the majority of our accomplishments are inspired by them.

Unfortunately, however, our mothers (and wives) exhaust themselves caring for everyone else without giving a second thought to their own needs.  I’ll never forget the “aha” moment sometime in college when I realized that my mom was a person with needs just like the rest of us.  It shook me.

That’s why I’m so excited by our “Mommy & Me, Pray & Play” ministry.  Every two weeks, ten of our young mothers with their little ones meet to encourage each other, pray together, discuss a book they are reading and enjoy wonderful fellowship. 

We all know that mothers need support and encouragement, and who better to provide that than other mothers experiencing the same challenges?  As the children get older, I get the privilege of playing my guitar for them and teaching them some simple songs of praise and worship in English and Armenian—even a few in Spanish!

We praise God for our mothers and thank Him for the gift they are and have been in our lives.  Let’s do our best, also, to encourage them and share their load so it’s not just on Mothers’ Day that they feel blessed, appreciated and deeply valued.