7th Sunday in Easter & Mother's Day

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you make?"

Susan, who had a reputation for frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.”

"You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn't learn.” Susan paused, then continued, "You want to know what I make? I make a difference. What do you make?”

Good teachers make a difference. I’m thankful for good teachers. But today, I want to talk about one of the greatest “teachers” on this earth that any of us have had. No matter where you grew up or went to school, we all had this teacher... Mom. If teachers make a difference, then our mothers make a HUGE difference! Mothers Make a Difference! Because they’ve been our most influential and important teacher of all! Our teacher in the home.

But our mothers are much more than just teachers. They carry out many roles in preparing us for life. Daycare worker, school teacher, home tutor, van driver, housekeeper, cook, CEO, nurse, doctor, and general maintenance worker. A mother has many jobs!

But one is more important than those. A mother’s most important job is to teach her children about Jesus Christ. To have the “fear of the Lord” in her life and model her faith in the Lord to her children. To insist on God’s ways being lived out in her home and to share full and free forgiveness through Jesus with her children when there is failure. A mother (and a father) are the most important teachers of God’s Word that God ever gave to their children!

A mother who teaches her children about Jesus is a more important teacher and pastor than any pastor or teacher her kids will ever have. The most important “church” her children will ever belong to is the one they go to at home. The most important lessons about faith and life her children will ever learn are the lessons that they learn at home. Even more so than the ones they learn at church! Yes, you heard me right! Mothers Make a Difference!

You want proof? Look at our text. Paul is thanking God because a young man named Timothy had such strong faith in Jesus. But where did his faith come from? Look carefully at verse 5. Timothy’s faith in Jesus was passed on to him from his mother, Eunice! The way she lived and the lessons she taught him from God’s Word planted and nurtured that faith in his heart. But she wasn’t setting off on some new experimental journey by mothering this way! Look at where her faith came from! Her mom – Lois! When she grew up, her mother had also taught her God’s Word and modeled a faith in Jesus – a faith passed on to her, and then her son.

Friends, what can we learn from this? Take notice that neither Timothy nor Eunice had a Christian day school to go to. They didn’t go to church or Sunday School. And yet, their faith is being praised and thanked for. Their faiths were developed and nurtured in their home. By their mothers. Mothers Make a Difference! They are the most important teachers of God’s Word a child will ever have! Moms, your home is the most important church your kids will ever have!

I could tell you the same story about my mom and my grandma. I may even be luckier than Timothy, because my dad and grandpa were also involved in sharing their faith with me. But especially today, I want to thank the Lord for the spiritual influence my mother had in my life. She always insisted on God’s standards in our home. But she loved us like Jesus loved us and forgave us when we didn’t deserve it. She wouldn’t allow us to go to bed without devotions, Bible stories, songs, and prayers.

She taught us what it meant to give to God. Every Sunday, each of us, wearing our lederhosen to church, had at least a quarter in our special pocket to put in the plate. And as soon as we could write, she had us write out the cheques to put into the envelopes that her and dad put in the collection plate – she taught us what it meant to give to God. She had us learning instruments as soon as possible so we could glorify God with music in worship. She very carefully monitored what we watched on TV. (Remember that show, the A-Team?... I don’t. That wasn’t shown in our home for a while. Too violent!) She wanted all her boys to be pastors. Everyone thought she was crazy. Well, she almost did it! The most important thing she did for us is lead us closer to Jesus. I thank God for her. But I know where she got it from, too. Her mother. She brought her up the same way. They made a difference!

Oh, I’m not saying my mom was perfect. Far from it. She would be the first to admit it. It’s impossible to be perfect. We have all failed that. The woman in Proverbs 31 isn’t a real woman – she is what a perfect wife and mother would be like – the perfect standard to shoot for in glorifying God. We will all fail along the way. The most important thing a mother could do when she does that is admit it. And ask for forgiveness. The same thing we all need to do.

Because we have a perfect parent. One who made no mistakes. One who made sure we were taken care of and not abandoned. Jesus said in John 14: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus was the perfect spiritual parent for us. He parented perfectly, so that when you, with all of your parenting failures and other failures, stand before God one day, He isn’t going to look at those or hold them against you! He is going to look at how perfect Jesus did it and give YOU that credit! So mothers and fathers, as you strive to be a perfect parent and to raise your kids up knowing Christ, let his grace and forgiveness comfort you!

No mother is perfect. Just forgiven through Jesus. When they live out their faith in that truth, Mothers Make a Difference! A HUGE one! Let me share one more story about my mom:

You know when we have those prayers in church where there is a time for silent prayer, and you all can have a moment to pray for your own personal things? Well, every Sunday, when my mother gets to that part of the prayer in the church service, she prays a silent prayer for my older brother. The one son who didn’t become a pastor. I know this, because, you see, I usually do the same thing, and we happened to share this with each other once.

You see, my older brother has been the wayward son. I know he wouldn’t mind me saying that to you. After being brought up knowing Jesus, he got out of the house, and started getting led astray by the wrong crowd. The party life. Flunked out of college on purpose – was proud of his 0.0 grade average! And he is still a lot smarter than me! Then left home and went out East to work at an amusement park, and completely lost touch with his family. Almost for good. In 1989 our family was making a big move from South Dakota to Wisconsin, and since there was no contact, he almost never found out that we were moving. If he didn’t finally call one week before we did, he would have had a big surprise when he showed up at our old house!

Finally he came back to live near the family. But church was no longer part of his life. Neither was God. So it seemed. Life was a party. Ambition was absent. He wouldn’t come to family events. Except when he got married. And that lasted less than a year. His health was declining. His friends were leading him astray. His faith was disappearing. But his mom was praying. Praying mightily. And using every opportunity to encourage him back to God.

A few years ago, he met a woman with three children. Jon couldn’t stand children. But he and this woman got along well. Church wasn’t part of her life either. But as the years went by, it gradually came to him that her and her children should know about Jesus and have some spiritual guidance in their lives. Just like he did when he grew up. So, a year ago, he started taking them to church. And taking the girls to Sunday School. And teaching them about Jesus himself. After all, he knew the stuff! And finally, together, taking Bible instruction classes. And with the pastor’s help, he was even teaching them! And you should see how much he loves the children now! What brought about all this change? I don’t know! But I know this: his mother was praying… And the Holy Spirit was working…

Last weekend I got a phone call from my brother Jon. Two weeks ago, he and his girlfriend Barb were confirmed at our WELS church in Madison, WI, and she and her three daughters received into membership at that church! Through Jon’s teaching and example, all three girls have come to faith in Jesus. The one son who didn’t become a pastor is being more than one! Oh yeah… and last Sunday night, Jon asked Barb to marry him. She said yes, and they will be married this summer.

My mother’s prayers were answered! Remember our Bible verse? Well, now I am reminded of my brother Jon’s sincere faith, which first lived in his grandmother Leila and in his mother Anita and, I am persuaded, now lives in him also. Friends, Mothers Make a Difference! Thank the Lord for them! Not just today – every day. If you are a mother, ask the Lord’s help to make a difference in your child’s life! He will help, and your effort will not be in vain! Amen.

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