Dear Friends

Mums who gave it all...

In discussing our mothers day message, my good friend and website designer, Alison, suggested she'd like to know more about biblical mum's who gave sacrificially.

Mum's who spring immediately to mind are Samuel's mum, Mary the mother of Jesus our Lord, and another not so well known mum is Mary the mother of James and Joses.

Hannah, the mother of Samuel was the favourite wife of her husband, but she was childless and her sorrow was increased by the torment and mocking of her rival wife. In her sorrow she maintained her faith, she prayed, she worshiped and she poured out her heart to God. God answered her prayer and gave her the son that she longed for. What joy, to be a mother at last! But Hannah had made a promise to God which she duly kept and when Samuel was weaned she presented him to the priest Eli. Samuel was to live with the priest in the temple. Can you almost feel Hannah's pain as she gives her son back to God? She made Him a little coat to wear and visited Him once a year. What an amazing sacrifice! Yet God's further blessing was even more amazing as she had three more sons and two daughters with her husband Elkanah. (1 Samuel chapter 2)

Mary' the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ gave herself obediently to God in worship, her song of praise is well known as she accepts the angel's message. Her sacrifice begins as she offers, herself body and soul to God's will... her story is eternally part of His story.

Mary the mother of James (known as James the less to distinguish his from the other more famous apostle James) and Joses, is less well known. What strikes me about this Mary is that she followed Jesus and served His from her substance and her two sons, both became apostles. A simple faith a trusting soul that gave her substance, herself and her son's. (Luke 8:2,3 Mark 3:21)

Mothering Sunday is a great day for remembering our own sacrificial mums. As children we may not appreciate their work or worth, I often think of my own mum, the endless piles of washing she did by hand as well as working full time... and the list goes on. As we read in proverbs 21 about the good wife... "Her children rise up and call her blessed".

Mothering Sunday is a British church tradition always celebrated on the fourth Sunday in lent so it falls on a different date each year. This should not be confused with Mothers day which is a good secular traditional practice and is celebrated on different days around the world. This year mothering Sunday falls on March 22nd.

I trust you will enjoy mothering Sunday and mothers day this year and if your mums a real gem... give Silverfish Jewellery and spread the Word!

Every blessing in Jesus,