Sunday will be the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is traditionally known as ‘Mothering Sunday’, the day we remember with love our mothers. We dedicate this service to them, for we will all have fond memories of our mothers even though many years have passed on.

This tradition originated in the 17th century when most of the population would attend Church, usually to the Church at which they had been baptised. Often whole villages would have processions to the Church with banners, even the servants of large houses would be allowed time to attend.

In the United States President Woodrow Wilson passed an Act of Congress in May 1914 decreeing that the second Sunday in May should be known as ‘Mothers Day,’ in order that love and reverence for mothers could be shown. Retailers and non Church members in this country have adopted that title rather than the English understanding of the religious significance.
This day also gives us the opportunity to remember Mary the mother of Jesus, and think of how our Lord honoured motherhood, even by showing concern for His mother when dying on the Cross. In our time the home and family are under sustained attack. Now the term husband and wife can be applied to two men, and officialdom tries to enforce the word ‘partner’ on people. Soon another name for mother will no doubt we found, just to please the diversity maniacs.

The foundation for every home is a father and mother (of different sexes) and the breakdown of family life and influenced is reflected in the breakdown of the nation’s morality. It is now unrealistic to expect marriage to be for life, but rather until we get fed up with each other.

A long serving Magistrate with a distinguished record and career, voiced the opinion that a child to be considered for adoption should be brought up in a man/woman home. For that natural and sensible statement, he was suspended from the highest level.

Harriet Harman, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, who never demands much credibility, once state where there was a man in charge of anything there should also be a woman. With typical inconsistency, she later supported two men being allowed to bring up a child.

A mother’s presence in the home is essential, and there has never been a more urgent time when good mothers are needed. I have never known a Jewish child get involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activities, and that is due to the control the Jewish mama has over her family.

God intended motherhood to be of the highest calling, yet government is advocating children can be brought up by two men, which is irresponsibility of the highest order. An American psychologist stated a child will never come to full development psychologically without a mother in the home. In an older generation, a woman would not go to work when her children were in infancy, now we see even babies being left in nurseries with strangers to care for them. I realise it is a different economic and social climate, but children’s development has not changed.

An article in a newspaper once said that women were leaving Christianity for Islam because of the greater moral code. Without denigrating the strict Islamic moral code, it is also a fact that no religion has greater respect for women than Christianity, and the Christian code is as moral as any, it is just Christians do not adopt it.

The emancipation of women began with Christianity 2000 years ago when Mary received a message from an angel and was told she would be the only woman ever to wear the red rose of maternity with the white rose of virginity, and be the mother of the Saviour of the world. When her Son grew up He gave women a new place in human relations with a dignity that wherever Christianity has gone women have been respected.

When God created the world He made man and He made woman, and gave each different characters, equal but different to fulfil different functions in life, and did so for a purpose, being capable of creating one sex if He so desired. God endowed women with a more caring nature in order to be mothers. Abraham Lincoln once remarked that no nation is greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of men

Female politicians, especially in modern government have tried to turn this upside down, and in the false name of equality have made some women to adopt the worst practices of men. For 2000 years women had in many respects been superior to men, but in the cause of equality and feminism, have adopted not only the worst vices of men, but have excelled more so.

The Bible calls on older women who have an honoured place in society, to play a major part in guiding younger women in the bringing up of children from their years of experience. We must have concern for women bringing up children in a world where all moral values are being eroded. Theirs is a big responsibility, especially when the nation’s broadcasting system gives out such foul talk and explicit scenes that cause weaker minds to think that is the natural way of life.

We need women who will lead their families back to more old style morality decency and purity. Children are being brought up without any religious knowledge, knowing nothing about Jesus or Biblical characters even in the homes of whatever class of home. An idealism prevails as to how children should behave, but it is often in modern phraseology, ‘cool’ for a child to be sexually aware. Schools play little part in educating children in religion or conduct unless the school is a private one.

Now we have Tristram Hunt, the Labour Education spokesman, who seems to me to be one of the most unpleasant members of Parliament, suggesting children of the age of five should be given sex education. He is not alone in such irresponsible talk. It is surely more than coincidence that Britain has the largest numbers of teenage pregnancy rates in Europe, and the most explicit sex education.

Spiritual matters should be of concern to mothers. Promises are made at baptism services that children will be brought up in the fellowship of the Church, although few have ever any intention of honouring the promises made. When my two sons were growing up, my then occupation required me to be away from the home for many long hours, and so much care fell upon my wife. It is to her credit that they both entered the Christian ministry after being youth leaders at their local Church. Today they are successful Vicars at Churches of their own where they have been a powerful influence in the Churches they have served.

I would encourage every mother to teach their children the stories of Jesus, and other stories from the Bible; it will give them a sure foundation for life. To bear a child is a costly and sometimes very painful act, calling for endurance sometimes beyond the mother herself. Mothering Sunday calls on us to remember it is the giving of oneself.

Mothers continue to care and worry for their children even when they reach adulthood. We have numerous examples of godly mothers in the Bible as an example for us to follow such as the mother of James and John who sought favour for them from Jesus, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth Salome, and of course above all Mary the mother of Jesus.

Women have been asked on radio and television what their occupation was, and have replied, ‘only a housewife and mother’. There is nothing to justify the word ‘only,’ such is motherhood one of the most honourable and worthy occupations.

May God richly bless all mothers.