MOM - THE GOAT
Last Sunday, I was very excited to celebrate Mother's Day. With the challenges of COVID19, I needed something to celebrate.
This year, Mother's Day was definitely like no other. However, we should celebrate mothers, as well as, those women who mother other people. Sometimes God places people in a woman's path for the vital and important role of caring for them.
Happy Mother's Day! A special thank you to all of the women who have mothered me. I’ve had every type of mother you can imagine: birth-mother, foster-mother, stepmother, and church mother to name a few. I praise God for all of the mother’s He’s given me. I wouldn’t be here today without the love and support of the women who’ve filled the gap and performed the roles of the Proverbs 31 woman.
I’d encourage you today to look for opportunities to spur one another on, as it states in Hebrews 10:24-25. If your gift is to mother, let God use you today. Our society needs a few good Proverbs 31 women, just as we, need a few good fathers and men. As Don Conley, Ringgold Church Senior Minister would say, "There’s one thing I know,” we can’t do life alone, and we need one another.
As we practiced social distancing, many of us celebrated Mother's Day in the privacy of our own, quarantined homes, but UPS, FedEx, and the floral shops were busier than ever.
As my family prepared for the online Ringgold Church service, I read the lesson’s title, "MOM - The GOAT," on the screen. I was quite confused. I thought it was an unusual sermon title, and I couldn't remember any major stories in the Bible about "MOM - The GOAT.”
“Greatest of All Time.”
Despite being a really cool mom (and you can ask my kids), I honestly didn’t know that G.O.A.T was an acronym for the “Greatest of All Time.” After I learned its definition, I was feeling pretty smug. Don also used VIP to describe mothers, and my smugness went into high gear. After all, everyone knows what VIP stands for –Very Important Person. After hearing all these motherly compliments, Don had my attention. My full, undivided VIP attention!
My excitement and haughty attitude were short-lived because Don then mentioned the Proverbs 31 woman. As he read, I thought, “Really? She spins wool and flax. What is flax anyway?” The Bible goes on to say, she inspects fields and plants vineyards. To be clear, a farmer woman, I am not! I’m afraid of snakes... OKAY, if truth be told, forget the snakes, I’m afraid of bugs.
After going over the long list of AWESOME qualities and characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman, I began to ponder which things I could do on the list if any. I’m somewhat energetic and definitely a hard worker, after I have my coffee, of course. I try to be considerate and concerned about helping others. Even though, I don’t help as much as I should.
Reading further into Proverbs 31, verse 22 stuck out to me. I thought, "Now, here’s something that I can do…” I like the idea of walking around in fine linen, and purple is one of my favorite colors.
But on a more serious note, I agreed with all of the necessary expressions to be shown to children outlined in the sermon. I'll be the first to admit that I am NOT perfect and have fallen short in parenting. I failed to use the expressions that Don mentioned in the sermon:
Moms Instill Respect for Authority
Moms Are Involved in The Lives of Their Children
Moms Trust God through Those Uncertain Times
I reflected on raising my children. I remember fabulous days, as well as, some very hard days too. When the people you love hurt, you hurt. When people go through difficult times while trying to navigate a hurting world, it can be very difficult for all involved. We must love one another. What an awesome reminder and scripture from this week’s lesson, Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
“5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
I used to help out at my children's school, and I will never forget the time this one child said to me, "Mrs. Dorsey, fifth grade ain't no walk in the park.” It was really funny at the time, but looking back on his comment, life really is no walk in the park, especially without a Savior.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, so if you’re a mother, father, parent, teacher, or anyone standing in the gap, we’re truly grateful to those that lend a helping hand according to God's Will and as is stated in His word.
After hearing Sunday’s message and before Mother's Day ended, I was humbled. I realized the Proverbs 31 woman has big shoes to fill. We can not achieve anything alone, and we must look to our Heavenly Father.
Oh, I also settled on a few new definitions of my own for the acronym G.O.A.T.––
Go On And Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Get Out And Try (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Get Other Adult Teachers (Proverbs 19:20)
Give Over All Troubles (1 Peter 5:7)
Perhaps this week, you can work on your own definitions of GOAT and fill in the gap for someone in need.
God Bless!
