Yesterday was Mother's Day and I just didn't feel right honoring our mothers with a blog. So, I took a look at three exceptional mothers from centuries present and past. They are world famous mothers. Not for being moms though, rather, for being exceptional in their Christian walk. So let's get to it.
1) Mother Teresa - Mother Teresa teaches us what it means to follow Romans 12:1 which says, "So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship." I can't remember ever seeing a picture of Mother Teresa in catholic Mass. It's not that she didn't attend, most assuredly she did. But her true worship was in sacrificing her own needs and desires for the sake of others and ultimately, for the sake of Christ. That's a lesson we all can learn from.
2) Mother Mary - As a protestant, we don't give Mary her full due a lot of times. However, if there's one lesson Mary can teach us, it's how to endure struggles and pain. She was pregnant as a young teen and was unwed when it happened. Her future husband, Joseph, had one foot out the door until an angel came to him in a dream and assured him her pregnancy really was from the Lord. I'm sure she was mocked and laughed at plenty. Not to mention, she watched her little baby boy grow up completely innocent of all crimes and sin. Yet, she watched him suffer beatings, false accusations and watched him die a criminals inhumane death, naked, on a cross. Yet, she endured through it all. She is the perfect example of what Paul means when he writes in Romans 5:3-4, "But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope." Our hope in Christ is our confidence in Him. That he is who he says he is and that he did what he claimed to. So praise God for the refining process of struggle that ultimately reminds us of our hope in Christ.
3) Susan Wesley - Susan Wesley was the mother of John Wesley who was the founder of Methodism. She is a shining example of what it means to be Spiritually Disciplined. Every day she taught her children their scholastic studies, Biblical studies, and prayer time. She also spent time every day for herself with God. Oh, did I mention she had 19 children! Now, less than half survived ( I believe somewhere between 6-9)which she still managed time for every week and every day. She prayed, read her Bible and helped in her community. Three disciplines I know I need to do better in my own life. How about You?
WOW, what extraordinary women these women were! I'm so impressed by each and only hope my life is as dedicated to the love of God through loving the people of this world as theirs were.
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