May 10th is Mother’s Day here in the USA. This is a special day to honor the woman who carried you in her womb for 9 months, brought you into this world, and most assuredly, gave of herself sacrificially for you for at least some of your life, even if your family situation was far from ideal.

First, I want to mention two very special mothers in the Bible, who gave sacrificially to their children, and how they dedicated them to the Lord. In Exodus, chapters 1 and 2, we read how the family of baby Moses risked their lives to save him, even after the Pharaoh of Egypt commanded that every baby boy was to be killed during birth, or to be cast into the river after he was  born. Moses ended up being the leader that brought the Israelites out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the Promised Land.

Then, in 1 Samuel 1 and 2, we read about Hannah, who had been barren (and provoked by another woman, because she was unable to have a child). Here are some facts about Hannah that ended up making her an ideal mother when she finally did have a son. She realized that being a mother was a beautiful, lofty calling, so she prayed fervently and persistently that God would bless her with a child. She promised God that she would dedicate and give this child to the Lord; She gave her son, Samuel, lots of time, training him in the ways of the Lord;  Then, she kept her promise to God, and I’m sure her prayers followed him throughout his life. At a time in Israel when no one was hearing from God because of rampant sin, God used Samuel as a prophet to bring His message to the people.

Well, the circumstances in my life weren’t as ideal as the above ones, and my siblings and I didn’t often get the time and attention that we needed; but in spite of the many hardships my mother faced in life, she truly was an exceptional mother in many ways, and deserves admiration and respect. I didn’t understand and appreciate how remarkable she was until I got to know her better shortly before she passed away by caring for her and reading her poetry that she had written through her difficult years, but by then it was almost too late. So, I really do love her dearly and wish I could give her a hug, and tell her that, as I wish her a “Happy Mother’s Day!”