MOTHER'S DAY

THE PRAYING MOTHER'S DESIRES FOR HER CHILD

~Jeremiah 29: 11-13~

In-person service at

Second Baptist Church

2412 Griffith Ave.

Los Angeles

Dr. D. Marie Battle, Associate Minister

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Good morning and thank you for joining us today!  It’s Mothers’ Day! I am shouting out Happy Mothers’ Day to every woman in the audience and radioland, yes, I said Everywoman whether you birthed a child or taught a child or helped raised a child, this greeting goes out to all of you! Whoever has touched the life or lives of children in any way, you deserve to be recognized. This goes out to not only biological mothers, but to godmothers, stepmothers, surrogate mothers, foster mothers, aunts, sisters - all of you who have played a role in rearing children, thank you!

Oh! PLEASE let me NOT forget the Fathers who have stepped up and taken on the role of a mother in his family. Today, we celebrate all of you! Let us give all of you a

BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

For the benefit of the youth, or those who may not be aware, this holiday started as

an idea to recognize mothers in this country; it originated from a woman named

Anna Jarvis, back in 1907. This was an idea whose time was overdue! In just three years every state in the Union (as well as many foreign countries) began celebrating Mother's Day. What a joy it is to recognize such an important occasion. In 1914,

7 years later, President Wilson, along with Congress, authorized the 2^nd Sunday in

May as an official holiday honoring mothers.

I’m adding a footnote here - to give an update on the Founder. Miss Anna Jarvis passed away in 1948 of a heart attack. She regretted having started this celebration because of the commercialization of the day. We celebrate this day in May because her mother died on the second Sunday is May.

As the month of May brings us our national Mother’s Day, it is fitting and proper to pay tribute to the one who nourished us at their breasts and rocked us to sleep in the warm security of their arms. Many of us have a mother’s day every day. We can never forget her love, prayers, and sacrifices.

The word Mother is sacred, it is synonymous with love. devotion and sacrifice. No one cares more for us than our mothers. Her heart is always with ours, helping, praising, calming, forgiving, loving unconditionally.

Mother's Day is a reminder that life is a precious, priceless gift through a process that requires discipline and sacrifice which produces wonder. The birth process, with all of its phases and stages evokes the most enduring emotions. Remembering mom, the one through whom people enter this ephemeral reality, is a natural response to the realization of what you have been given which has made possible the potential for your living.

The Bible says “father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives you.” Exodus 20:12

Consider what it means to give honor to mother for being the one

who has brought you into the world, and to honor the commandment which reminds you to honor your mom. 

Monday, May 13, 2024

The Blessings from God

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29: 11-13

I came across the following story entitled The Legend for Mother’s Day by an unnamed mother from the Bible. It gives the perfect introduction for my message today:

A long time ago, there was a unnamed mother of the Bible who had a son, in whom she centered all her dreams and ambition. She wanted him to become a great man for whom his fellow men would admire his prosperity. Her son did not grow as his mother wanted. He was obedient, never brought dishonor or shame upon his mother. He was not interested, but agreed he would do his best to become the great, successful man she desired. He grew and approached manhood. His mother began to have doubts about her son. She could tell he was not affected by her ambitions for him. He was not a failure, but he was not as successful as she expected. Because she had more wisdom than most mothers, she began to understand his quietness and the way he looked at himself and his fellow men calmly and without envy. 

She realized that that his attitude might be of more value than the tangible

successes she had so desperately desired for him. Slow was this realization in

coming to her, and difficult to accept. This man her son had become – this

quiet calm being who looked upon the world so clearly - this was not the son

she had willed. But because she had in her somewhere more wisdom than most

mothers, she finally understood and accepted the truth that her son was doing

what all men must do if they are to remain men – fulfilling his own destiny

after his own fashion. With this understanding came ultimately the

assurance that his success was deeper and higher than anything she had ever

dreamed for him. 

In conclusion, I would like to add, the attitude of this godly mother is beautifully expressed in the following words: Her love outlasts all human love; Her faith endures the conquests’ hardest test; Her grace and patience through a lifetime prove, that she

is his friend, loves him deeply and is a praying mother who loves the Lord.

Consider what it means to have your child grow to fulfill the child’s

potential, as opposed to fulfilling the potential of what YOU want for your child.

The second mother is the mother of Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet. She recognized his gift.  She encouraged his creative talent. She worked as a seamstress to support the family while he attended school. Her unwavering support and prayers allowed Kahlil's artwork to gain recognition. Kahlil was born into a Christian family. 

He was born in Lebanon. Although his spiritual philosophy transcended religious boundaries, his upbringing and cultural background were deeply influenced by Christianity. His works often explore universal themes of love, spirituality, and human connection, drawing from both Eastern mysticism and Western philosophy.

There was a woman who held a baby against her bosom and said, “Speak to us of Children.” And he said:

“Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.

They come through you, but not from you.

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts. 

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their soul dwells in the house of tomorrow,

Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams

You may strive to be like them

But seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backwards nor tarries with yesterday. 

You are the bows from which your children

As arrows are sent forth. 

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite.

And he bends you with his might,

That his arrow may go swift and far. 

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies,

So he loves also the bow that is stable.”

Consider what it means that your children are not your own but

are the children of life longing for itself. 

In this powerful Poem Gibran emphasizes several key points:

1) Children as Divine Beings

• children are not mere extensions of their parents
• children are unique souls with their own purpose.

They come into the world through their parents, but their origin lies in Life’s longing for existence.

Consider what it means that your children are not your own

but are gift of life with purpose beyond what you may discern.  

2) Parental Love and Detachment

• Parents can provide love and care, but they should not impose their thoughts or desires on their children.
• Children have their own thoughts and destiny, which parents cannot fully comprehend.

Consider what it means that a child may have his/her own destiny

which is beyond your comprehension. 

3) The Role of Parents



•  Parents are like bows and their children are the arrows.
•  The Archer (life or the Divine) shapes parents to propel their children toward their own paths in life.         

“The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families.”

Consider what it means for a child to have a head start, safe start,

moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood.  

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

Remember the plans the Lord has for all of us are plans to prosper and not harm, to give you a hope and future. These words were spoken to the people of Israel when they were in captivity experiencing a low point in their lives emotionally, psychologically and physically and the Lord reassured them that the Lord has plans beyond the moments of melancholy moods of distress and disappointment; beyond the rigors of the routine of adjusting to life in all of its challenges, circumstances and conditions; beyond the moment's frustration and fickle mindedness. There is a place where the prospering of the Lord will be made known so keep the faith, forge ahead ingeniously through hindrances until that day of the Lord’s declaration is fulfilled. 

Consider what it means to live with faith forging ahead ingeniously

through hindrances until the day when the declaration

of the Lord will be fulfilled in your life.  

Second Baptist Church Los Angeles

2412 Griffith Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90011 

Phone: (213) 748-0318