Honor Your Mother

A few years ago someone in the leadership of our Mops Ministry gave me an article that had appeared in a national magazine that Mops puts out posing two questions to young mothers, mothers of preschoolers in particular, and some of the responses to these two questions. Question number one, what surprised you most about becoming a mother? And here are the responses, myself, not me, you understand, I'm talking about the article here. My temper and impatience, how tired I feel, how much I love my child, that a baby can take up my whole day. What surprised you most about becoming a mother? Now being a mom brings out the best and worst in me, that I'll never be able to use the bathroom alone again, that I can't punch out at five o'clock or even two a.m. that I understand my mother for the first time. And what surprised you most about becoming a mother? How wonderful it is to be called mommy. One question that was posed to these mothers of preschoolers was, mom, what do you need most? Here are the answers, a sanity check to know that I'm a good mother, acceptance, encouragement, time, patience, a nap, a housekeeper, a secretary, a nanny, adult conversation, a best friend, someone to understand how I feel to know that being a mother is important. In the movie, mom's night out, Allison has a wonderful family, she has a loving husband, three wonderful children, God has been very good to her, and yet she is all stressed out about being a mom. And she expresses some of that stress and some of the very same feelings that we have just encountered from other mothers in a blog that she is attempting to write. She can tell it better than I, so let's listen to her. It's five a.m. Do you know where your children are? Mine are in bed. I should be in bed. It's Mother's Day. But I'm not one in the why. Look out on the clean freak. I am talking freaky, de-de-de-dutch. If you would have locked me away in a white room in a straight jacket, it would actually feel comforting. As long as the world was spotless, anybody would wish you. I just feel the house getting dirty, like I have nerve endings in the car fit. And it affects me. Want to know how? First, I feel distracted. D-D-I-S-O-F-O-S-O-C, like right now. I'm thinking of the cleaning supplies I left out and how one of the kids is going to get up and drink chlorox and then I'd end up having to call poison control and they'd say, sorry Mrs. Field too many times this month and take my kids away. Too many times this month Mrs. Field we're here to take your children away. I played it all out. I'm sure you've played this all out. Which is kind of morbid. After I feel distracted, I feel stressed. Then I have a moment. Mother, I'm talking to daddy. This is me having a moment with my daughter. It's hard to be about the stress level. What? Well it's a little high? See, it's a little cycle thinking just, did you just come inside? No. Did you just come inside? No, no, no. It was a little cycle. This is me having a moment with some helpless newlyweds. You just wanted to say congratulations. And saber, this moment in your life, so what I started to speak, I thought it was help. But in the words just started coming out of me like lava. You're going to blink, you're going to blink and it's all going to be over and replace it. You're so beautiful. You're so beautiful. You're so beautiful. You're so beautiful. Look at that. Look at that look on her face. That's the look of a girl whose fairy tale just ended. I murdered it. I'm a fairy tale murderer. I only take so much before he's cracked. I don't like the Bruce Banner of Stay at Home Mom. He doesn't want to turn into the Hulk. It just happened. Which is exactly how I feel. I love my kid. I love my husband. My mini-vamp, my mini-vamp is awesome. I have this incredible life. So why do I feel this way? Why do you feel this way? Well, to help with some of that stress level for not all young moms but middle-aged moms and older moms as well, to help with that this morning, we're going to look at Proverbs 31. You see, you got to get kidding, John, to help with stress. Look at Proverbs 31. Are you serious? The expectations there will create more stress, right? Well, actually there is a part of that chapter which deals not with the expectations of the ideal mother but deals with how to honor our mothers. Paul said in Ephesians chapter 6 and verses 2 and 3, honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Paul commanded us to honor our fathers and our mothers. And the writer of the 31st chapter of Proverbs tells us how to do that. We have the command. Now, how do we do it? And Proverbs tells us how. There are three ways that are commanded for us, commended for us, to honor our mothers. The first one is recognize her value. If you are in Proverbs 31, look at verse 10. Please, a wife of noble character who can find she is worth far more than rubies. Her value. What Solomon is saying or the writer here, some believe King Limuil is another name for Solomon, but the writer here, whoever he is, is saying this wife of noble character who can find, so write off the bad he admits that she is rare. Recognize her value by understanding that she is rare. Now, that ought to let you ladies off the hook a bit. We are being told right up front that you are not going to find this kind of person very often. So, obviously, this is the ideal. This is the model toward which every wife and mother should strive. It is the ideal. It is not going to be attained by very many people. I mean, he is telling us that. She is rare. You don't find many of these people. In fact, the reason why there are not many of them is found in that word, or words, noble character. It is a translation of a Hebrew word that is translated a number of different ways in different translations, because it has a number of different meanings. It is a very rich term, a very rich word. The King James has the word virtuous. And when we think of that word, we think of moral purity. And that is certainly included in the word, but that doesn't capture everything in this amazing word. The word also communicates the idea of might or strength, of value, even sometimes of wealth in the Old Testament. It communicates not only moral virtue, but also ability, efficiency, devotion, dependability. And so, translators struggle to find one English word to try to get all the meaning of this word in. So, in the NIV, you have a wife of noble character, the ESV, the New American Standard, both have an excellent wife. This kind of summarizes it with that word, excellent. So, the idea is that this is a woman who meets a lot of criteria here, and because the standard is so high, this kind of woman is rare. So, let me say this. If your wife, if your mother, is striving to be this kind of woman, people who reach this standard are very rare. But it is the standard, it is the model, it is the example toward which women should strive. And so, if your wife or mother is striving to meet this example, as weak as that may be, as often as she may fail, and we would all fail. I mean, I could go to 1st, 10th of the three and say, that's the standard for us guys, and none of us would measure it very well either. So, if your wife is striving for this, this is her ambition, this is her goal, then recognize her value. She is rare. But not only does the writer say she is rare, he also says she is a great treasure. You see the second part of verse 10, a wife of noble character, who can find? She is rare, but notice the next words, she is worth far more than rubies. In other words, she is the greatest treasure you could ever hope to have. Greater than any earthly possession is a woman, a wife, a mother, like this. She is a rare fortune, worth far more than rubies. And why? Because of all that he goes on to describe that this woman does. And again, remember, this is the model, this is the example toward which you, as wives and mothers and women should be striving, but notice her description as a woman. As a woman, she is of great value, far more valuable than rubies than any earthly treasure. Because as a woman, she is diligent. Look at verse 13. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands, skip on down to verse 17. She sets about her work vigorously. Her arms are strong for her tasks, verse 18. She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night, down to verse 27. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. You get the idea this woman is busy. She knows there are lots of things to be done in her household, and so she is eager to do them. She works hard, sometimes getting up early, sometimes going to bed late, but she is diligent as a woman. She is also as a woman wise. Look at verse 16. She considers a field and buys it out of her earnings. She plants a vineyard. She has a sharp business sense about her. She knows how to handle money and how to invest it and how to make it produce. She is wise. But also as a woman, she is upright in character, in moral behavior, verse 25. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. Clothed with strength, speaking of spiritual strength here, and dignity, the character quality of that is respected, that is commendable, that is of noble character. This is a godly woman. So she is a rare treasure. She is very special and great treasure because as a woman, she meets all that criteria, but notice her also as a wife. The writer also describes her as a wife, and verses 11 and 12. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Why? Because she brings him good, not harm all the days of her life. And so he has complete confidence in her because he knows that she wants to bring him good, not harm. Obviously the same thing should be true of a husband for his wife, if we love our wives as Christ loves the church. But here the responsibility of the wife is to do him good. And when a wife is committed to doing her husband good, not harm, not undermining him, not doing him harm in any way, then that kind of husband has great confidence in his wife. Verse 23. Her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. Now don't misunderstand that. It's not that he's loafing around and at the city gate is kind of sitting around all day, wasting time. In the Old Testament, the city gate was the place of business. It was the place of legal affairs. It was the town council room. It was the county commission chambers. It was the place where government affairs were done. It was the place where trials were held. And the elders of the city would gather there to weigh important decisions. The obvious implication is he has risen to such a place of respect in large part because of his wife. He is so well respected because of her. And so he has a place at the city gates in the community. He is well looked up to. And that is because of her, because of her doing him good and not harm all of his life. So as a woman, as a wife, but notice her also as a mother, how rare and great a treasure she is. As a mother in verses 21 and 22, she clothes her family wisely. When it snows, she has no fear for her household. For all of them are clothed in scarlet simply that they are warm enough. They are clothed in the appropriate clothing. Verse 22, she makes coverings for her bed. She is clothed in fine linen and purple. So she clothes her family wisely. She also feeds them wisely. Look back at verse 14. She is like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar. It depends on how far away you are from Kroger or Grants. But bringing her food from afar, I mean, she's... The idea here is that she takes pains to choose carefully what to feed her family. And verse 15, she gets up while it is still night. She provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. Now, know what you're thinking, ladies. That's how she gets all this done. She's got all those female servants. Yeah. Well, you know what? You do, too. Your refrigerator, your dishwasher, you know, all the appliances you have, that's what female servants used to do in the Old Testament. And so, no rotten tomatoes, please. But you have some female servants as well in your household. The point is, she as a mother clothes and feeds her family wisely. But she also shops sensibly. Verse 14, she's like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar. In other words, very careful about the choices she makes. But look at verse 18, she sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night. She is the kind of woman who shops sensibly, who provides well for her family. So, as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, she is a rare and great treasure. But not only that, not only in the home, notice what the writer says about her as a neighbor in verse 20. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She's always looking for someone to help. A neighbor, person in the community in need, person in the church who has a need, whatever it might be, she's looking to reach out even beyond her own family to help with those who have needs. And in verse 26, she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She speaks graciously. She's not the community gossip, she's not the neighborhood gossip. She is one who speaks faithfully. One who speaks, one who's mouth is full of instruction and building up and edifying. That's the kind of woman she is. Someone has tried to put this in more modern language, this ideal woman, this woman of noble character who seems to be all of these incredible qualities. In more modern language, it may sound something like this. Supermom is who she is. The queen of containers, laminated instructions, and over-the-top family management. She could seemingly do everything that her busy family required with great organization and the ever-intimidating ease of a Martha Stewart look-alike. In addition to a full-time job directing the local preschool, sharing several prominent committees in the community, and shuffling her children to gymnastics and soccer, she is an outstanding cook, has regular date nights with her husband, and still has time to send thoughtful notes to her friends. She attends every Tupperware pampered chef, Mary K. Holm and Terriers, Longer Burger Basket 31, Mary and Martha Essential Oils, and scrapbooking party that she's invited to. She is present at every baby shower and wedding shower announced in the church bulletin. She attends every wedding and anniversary reception throughout the whole year, always bringing the perfect gift, probably some Tupperware pampered chef set, or Longer Burger Basket. That's the Proverbs 31 woman in today's terms, right? Now ladies, you're feeling a little overwhelmed. I remind you again, this is the model. This is the goal toward which every woman, wife and mother is to strive. Those who attain this goal in every respect are very rare. The writer tells us that, very rare. So not many are going to reach that, but that should be the goal of every woman, wife and mother. And guys, just a reminder to us, let's give them a break, okay? Let's give them a break when they don't quite measure up, when they're like Allison, and they're upset with the kids, and they want to let some newlywed know what's coming when you have three kids, give them a break, okay? And don't ever call them a psycho. Whatever through that, that is not good. Recognize her value, and then Proverbs 31 tells us a second way to honor our moms. Let her know she is special. Let her know she's special. Verse 28 and 29, her children arise and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her, many women do noble things, but use her past them all. This woman, imperfect, yes, sinner, yes, like all the rest of the human race, but this woman who longs to be the Proverbs 31 woman, who seeks that with all of her heart, who has that as her goal in life, this woman should be appreciated by her family. She needs to be appreciated by her family. Once again, I want to let Allison kind of tell the story for us. Allison has everything she's ever dreamed about having. What she dreamed about as a child, she is living out, and yet for some reason, she's unfulfilled. She's unhappy. Listen to her say it. You know what I wanted to be when I was a boy? A basketball player. Don't laugh. There's a proud tradition of white, short basketball player. Where is that? Where is this? This is a house that you daddy's making. Is this going to be a house? Is that a window? Yeah, it is. If you move it over here, then you can see the pool. I can't go see her. I can't see her. Interesting. You know what I wanted when I was a kid? What? I wanted to be a mom, marry a wonderful man, and I did. I have beautiful babies and race them, and I did. I am. I don't get it, John. This was my dream. I am literally living it. And I'm not happy. What do I feel like that? I don't know. Why do you feel like that? The obvious answer from a biblical perspective is that first and foremost, our happiness comes from our relationship with Christ. It is grounded there. That is where we have to find it. Not in everything here. Even our relationships here can't fully bring us to the joy that only Christ can bring. And seek from the scriptures here to answer one way at least, one reason at least. Why many moms who may have all they have ever dreamed of having as a mother and a wife may be unhappy and unfulfilled. It may be because she never hears how special she is. You know, we dads and moms too who work in the marketplace. There are plenty of opportunities there for promotions, commendations, raises, positive evaluations, the boss to speak highly of you. Plenty of verbal affirmation coming your way if you're at all doing your job like you should. And even the children, if they're working hard in school, they're going to get glowing report cards and the teacher saying good things about them. And hopefully they even get promoted to the next grade. And they're going to find positive reviews with the parent teacher evaluations. And they're going to be rewarded for various things they've done at the end of the year. But what does a mom ever get? What kind of trophy does she ever get? What kind of a certificate does mom ever get? It can be as it's often called a thankless job. And what Solomon is saying is that it is our responsibility both as children and husband to make sure it is not a thankless job. Notice what he says, this appreciation by the family should be done first of all by the children. You see it there in verse 28, her children arise and call her blessed. Now don't get the wrong idea here. This is not when mom walks in the room, you know, you kind of take your headphones off and stand up, bless you, sit back down and you're done. It's not, it's not some kind of routine that you go through. To rise up in someone's presence in Old Testament culture was the deepest sign of respect. It was like being in the presence of royalty. It was a sign of reverential honor. I honor you, I respect you, I stand in your presence. It is a sign of respect because of the position that person occupies. It is being courteous, it is being kind. So it's not just literally standing up in her presence, I wish I could be in some of your homes this afternoon and just see how this plays out. But it's not just standing up when she walks in the room. It is the common courtesy and respect that you show every day as a child. How you speak to your mom, how you treat your mom, how you take care of things in the home to show kindness to your mom. That's standing up in her presence and blessing her. That's what that is. But notice this is also supposed to be done by the husband. You see it at the end of verse 28. Her husband also. So yeah, guys, it means when she walks in the room, you stand up. That puts you love that. I have to say that because I have gotten a lot of mileage on Father's days out of 1 Peter 3 where Sarah called Abraham Lord and expecting to be called Lord in my household. And so since I've gotten so much mileage having fun with that, by the way, since I've gotten so much mileage out of that, I got to get some mileage for your ladies out of this one. Her husband also does what also arises and calls her blessed. Again, her husband respects her. Her husband shows her courtesy, kindness. I know that shivalry is for the most part dead. But some way, guys, in your homes, in our homes, let's find a way or ways to show courtesy and kindness to our wives. Let's continue to court them and show them that they are special and treat them as that rare and precious jewel that Solomon says she is. She should be appreciated by her family. And notice it says at the end of verse 28, her husband also, he rises and calls her, and he praises her. How long has it been since you praised your wife for the food she cooks, for all the work she does to make your house, the home that it is, try going for a week without her and see what it's like being a bachelor again. You know, we kind of get dependent on our wives, don't we? And that's a good thing. That's a part of that oneness that marriage is all about. But if we take it for granted and we never say thank you and we never praise for all of the things she does, we're not fulfilling the common kindness and courtesy that the writer of Proverbs encourages us to do. She should be appreciated by her family. But the writer does not stop there. He goes on to say this appreciation should be expressed. It's not enough to say, well, she ought to know. I mean, look at what I've done. Look at the job I have, the house I've provided, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear. She ought to know that I think she's great. No, no, it needs to be expressed. Will you look at verse 29? I hope it's true in your version. It certainly is in the Bible. I have here on the pulpit. And that is this verse 29 is in quotation marks. Now, that's for a reason. You see, verse 28, it says her children call her blessed and it also says her husband praises her and verse 29 is actually what is supposed to be said. This is what is said. It's in quotation marks. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. What he's saying is you need to tell her. It's not enough to say don't my actions prove it. Doesn't what I provide show it. That's not enough. Proverbs says we need to tell her. In quotation marks here, it is. There are lots of great ladies out there, but you are number one. You surpass them all. I love you. If I had it to do all over again, I would marry you. That's the kind of praise, the kind of appreciation that Solomon is saying we need to give our wives. Say it. Say it. And then show it. Show it in the way you help at home. Show it in the little things you do. I hope you got your mother, your wife, mother's day card. If you didn't, I know I'm probably as much trouble as you are for reminding you, but anyway, I hope you did. If you didn't, the pickings are slim on Sunday afternoon, but you could probably find one. What about a card on July 28th? What about a card on October 3rd when she would never expect it? Because on October 3rd, it's going to go a long way towards saying I really do love you. I'm thinking about you. I know it's not Mother's Day. It's not even the birthday. And she's going to wonder what is this anniversary? What is this day? It's just a day I want you to know I love you. And there are lots of women who do great things, but you're number one. You surpass them all. To say that, to say that, is very, very special. Now, I think that same thing is communicated in verse 31. And I never really saw this until this week when I was looking at this passage again. Verse 31, notice it. Honor her for all that her hands have done and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. I used to read that and I used to think, oh, she takes her wares that she makes down to the city gate where there's a lot of people, sets up a little table, you know, in sales and her works, praise her in the city gate. But I think there's something more here. Do you remember what's happening at the city gate? And do you remember who is at the city gate? Verse 23, her husband is respected at the city gate. And if her husband is supposed to be praising her for her works, verse 29, many women do noble things, you surpass them all. Then letting her works bring her praise at the city gate, I think, is her husband bragging on her when he's out with the guys doing his work. I think that's what that's really talking about. So, guys, how do you talk about your wife at work? How do you talk about your wife when you're around the other guys? Because I think that's what verse 31 is talking about. And I've been around enough guys, none of you, by the way, none of you here. But I've been around enough guys who talk about their wives and not in the church office either, but are make that clear. But I've been around enough guys in other places and talking about their wives to know that it's not always positive. If that's the case, then you need to be the voice that speaks up for your wife, that praises her, that allows her works to be seen and praised in the city gate, in the place where you do business, in the place where you're around the other guys, in the place where you're helping run the city. Then your wife needs to be praised. So let her know she is special. She needs to hear that, needs to be appreciated by our family, and that appreciation needs to be expressed. The Solomon gives us a third way to honor our mothers and our wives, appreciate her inner beauty. This is verse 30. Appreciate her inner beauty. Look at verse 30. Charms deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. What Solomon is speaking of here is a lasting beauty. It is a kind of beauty that never fades. It never diminishes. It is a lasting beauty because he contrasts it with two other kinds of beauty, both of which do fade, both of which do diminish. Notice he says in verse 30, Charm is deceptive. Now he's talking there about personality. And he's not saying that when someone is charming and they know how to charm a group of people or a dinner party in their home and they're around others and they're just so charming and their personality is so pleasant. He's not saying that is de facto by nature deceptive, but he's saying it certainly can be because that is an outward thing that one can put on. You can do this as a mask. You can be very pleasant in public and not that way at all at home. It can be deceitful. So a person can have a lot of charm and just really charm the socks off people in public, but not really be that way in their character and their home and children and husbands are going to see that. So charm, charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. Now I'm going to really get on thin ice with this one. Beauty is fleeting. It ain't going to hang around forever. Now the Bible said that. So I hide behind the Bible here, but we all know that right. Aging does a number on everything physical and I know there are lots of of industries that make a lot of money trying to make sure that doesn't happen. And many of you, dear sweet beautiful ladies, spend a lot of money on those industries to make sure you can keep as much of that beauty as possible for as long as possible. I'll never forget hearing a Mark Lallery who is probably my favorite Christian comedian. I do a show one time and he was talking about his favorite versus scripture. He said my favorite versus scripture is and it came to pass. And he stopped. Everybody's waiting for the rest of the verse. He said that's it. My favorite passage is and it came to pass. And he went on to talk about some of the difficulties of life and trials that we go through and heartaches that we go through. And the assurance that that is all a part of God's providence in our lives and it will pass. It came to pass. But then he applied it to other things. He applied it to young guys who have muscles on top of muscles. He said I think have muscles in their earlobes. And he said enjoy it while you can. It will come to pass. And then he talked about women and beauty. It will pass. Beauty is fleeting. It will not stay not outward physical beauty forever on this earth. Age will diminish that. And for that very reason because a charming personality can be deceptive and because physical beauty will not last forever there is a lasting beauty that should be cultivated and should be most highly treasured by our children and husbands. So this is a challenge to women. Let me say that. This is a challenge to every woman to cultivate that inner beauty which is a far greater importance than your personality or your physical attractiveness. The inner beauty is most important because it does not fade away. In fact with time that grows. With time that becomes more beautiful. It does. And that is something that you can continue to cultivate the rest of your life. Interesting this same thought comes up a couple times in the New Testament. Peter first of all addresses this in first Peter chapter 3, verses 3 and 4 when he says our speaking to the women in the church and the women speaking about what they should be before the Lord says our beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading notice that lasting unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight. Now there's nothing wrong with the jewelry or the nice clothes or the hairstyles. He's not saying forget about that look as drab as you possibly can. He's not saying that but he is saying much better to make your adornment that which calls attention to you to be that of the inner person because that can grow with age. And then Paul says the same thing in talking to Timothy about addressing the women in the church there at Ephesus in 1 Timothy 2. He says I also want the women to dress modestly with decency and propriety adorning themselves by the way there's that word adorning again it comes from the word that a Greek word that we get our English word cosmetics from. It literally means to dress up to fix yourself up in a way that draws attention to you. And what he's saying is what should draw attention to you is not elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes but what should draw attention to you is good deeds appropriate for women who profess to worship God. So adorn yourself in other words that which calls attention to you which people notice which people appreciate is that of the inner spirit the inner beauty. So ladies cultivate that and that is also a reminder to the men to appreciate that above everything else and to look for that and praise that above everything else. Much more so than a charming personality or physical attractiveness is that inner spirit that beautiful spirit that God loves and that God wants you to cultivate and God wants us as husbands to appreciate. A few years ago I clipped an article out of focus on the family magazine stuck it in my files and it's written by a woman addressing this issue. And so since I'm a guy and don't really understand all this from a female perspective I'm just going to read what she has to say. She says I am a super mom and I run my home like a CEO manages a corporation but the truth is that I stress out my husband and my children. I have been able to keep all the plates spinning but I'm tired. I'm not sure it's worth it. I am realizing that my soul has been empty for a very long time. She goes on to write there was no particular reason that my soul fell asleep and yet there was every reason. I have lived most of my life as a spiritually enthusiastic woman who desired the holiness and passion of God and then I had four children in seven years. Four amazing blessings. Four people I adore. Four inquisitive, needy little squirts who want hot meals clean clothes and answers to a million questions every day. Not necessarily earth shattering questions just ones like would you braid my hair. Can I have a snack who took my cran box where are my shoes can hailey spend the night can Tyler spend the night. What's for dinner? How do you spell February? Do I have to wear a coat? Can I have another snack? Anyway, in the midst of unloading the dishwasher, matching a hundred white socks every week and giving more explanations then required by legal counsel in a deposition, my soul fell fast asleep. It happened so slowly that I didn't even know I had been tranquilized by the joys and the monotony of motherhood. She says I had been mistaken. I thought that the goal of motherhood was to be a super mom, but in fact the goal of mothering is to be a woman of God to your children. A woman of God is intimately connected to her savior. A woman of God can love and give from the overflowing cup God has filled. She says dear mom, my sister in the pursuit of quick meals and clean laundry, my co-laborer in raising good kids who grow up to love Jesus, let us not become weary or distracted in the care of our own souls. This is the one thing that really matters. Wake up and rub the sleep from your eyes. We will not know the life God has intended for us apart from a passionate pursuit of Christ. We function poorly apart from His power. Let Him bring the patience that you lack. Let Him carry what you struggle to bear. Let Him fashion you into a mother of virtue. Good words. So moms, what are you cultivating? Ladies, what are you cultivating? Is your real concern about the charming personality or physical attractiveness? There is nothing wrong with either of those things. Certainly they shouldn't be neglected. But are you more than anything else cultivating a godly spirit? Cultivating the heart on the inside? I have never seen the movie. I have just seen these clips, but I want to watch the movie sometime. Because I have come to appreciate Allison and her struggle in moms night out. She is just wanting a little time away from the kids with her best friend and her pastor's wife to go out on a night out with other moms. There are things that happen that evidently disrupt that and derail it. There is one point in the movie where she receives some great advice about measuring up to all the expectations of motherhood. That advice comes from a fairly unlikely source. Let's watch. I can't. I can't get in front of it. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I give, I'm just not enough. For who? What? Not enough for who? I mean, Sean, the kids, my mother, god, everybody, I don't know. I don't know you. Not enough for you. I was raised in church. It's my surprise you, but I have since drifted from the faith. I'm a mother. I worked three jobs. I never met my daddy. I had to get up early and walk to school, but I'd wait up for her coming home from the diner. I'd wait up every night. Because she'd come home and she'd put me to bed and she'd tell me something. She'd tell me the same thing every night. He loves you, Charles. No matter who you are, no matter what you do or how far you run. Jesus will always be loving you with his arms open wide, just for being you. And I'd smile and go off to sleep. You know, I saw something on Pentecost the other day. It was an eagle just tearing for its young. It's a beautiful thing to watch when a God's creation is just doing what He made it to do. Just being an eagle. And that's enough. God's been so much time beating yourselves up. I was beating it's Austin. Let me tell you something, girl. I doubt the good Lord made a mistake. Given your kiddos, the mama he did. So you just be you. He'll take care of the rest. Mom, stop beating yourself up. The Bible itself tells us nobody measures up or at least it's only a very rare person that really measures up to Proverbs 31. But set that as your goal. Just be who you are and who God made you to be. And then set that ambition before you to be all God has created you for and want you to be. And let him take care of the rest. And I don't think he made a mistake by giving your family you. Dad's children. It's up to us according to this text to make sure that her value is recognized to make sure that she knows she is special. To make sure that we appreciate more than anything else. The inner beauty that she's cultivating in her walk with God. That's how we honor our moms. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for giving us this great model, this great example of a godly mother, a godly wife, a godly woman. Lord, I pray that this will be the goal and the standard that every woman in this auditorium will strive for. And that we as husbands and children will be their cheerleaders not to condemn, not to criticize, but to cheer them on their way to let them know how valuable they are, how special they are, and how much we love what we see God doing in their hearts. May we truly honor our mothers and our wives. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.