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tribute to mother
by Dr. W illiam W a rd Ayer
M o t h e r ’ s D a y gives us a special opportunity to fulfill the Scrip tural injunction, “Honor thy mother.” How far we have come from the days of honoring “ thy father and thy moth er!” Today’s most deadly attack upon our civilization is made upon the home. It is sad that much of the motherhood of the day is not instill ing in the minds and hearts of child hood the Christian ideals of the past. Any time America loses its godly motherhood, Christian America is gone. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Proverbs 1:8, 9). Why is motherhood so important for good or for ill? It is because of the divine sanctity of the home. Home is earth’s first, foremost, and most fun damental institution. It was estab lished by God in the Garden of Eden. And motherhood is the heart of the home. Literally millions of people have sung these sentimental words: “When I was but a little child, how well I recollect How I would grieve my mother with my folly and neglect; And now that she has gone to heaven, I miss her tender care: O Saviour, tell my mother I’ll be there! “ Tell mother I’ll be there in answer to her prayer; M AY, 1964
Lincoln said: “ I remember my moth er’s prayers, and they have followed me; they have clung to me all my life. All that I am and hope to be I owe to my angel mother.” Some will remember their mother’s admonition and chastisement. Mod em mothers may talk a great' deal about prohibitions, repressions, and all the rest, but the old-time mother who spanked on occasion, and whip ped more severely when it was needed, did not raise a bunch of lawless, lazy, juvenile delinquents without respect for God or man. Most of them raised a group of respectful children who were brought up in the fear and ad monition of the Lord. What would you give to be able to obliterate the years, turn back the universe, and live one blessed hour of yesterday? How cheap our present day would appear if we could only do that. Many of the things to which we have become accustomed would nauseate us if we could go back to other days of godliness, purity, and simplicity. On this Mother’s Day, with all the tender memories crowding into con sciousness, permeating your whole being with their fragrance, will you not say “Yes” to Jesus? The word of surrender may go winging its way through this universe to the throne of God. “ 0 Saviour, tell my mother I’ll be there.” Available in printed form from the American Tract Society, Oradell, NJ. 13
This message, blessed Saviour, to her bear. Tell mother I’ll be there, heaven’s joy with her to share. Yes, tell my darling mother I’ll be there!” This song has caused strong men to weep their way to Jesus, remem bering as they did the childhood in fluence of their mothers upon their lives. The power of their mother’s prayers and the influence of their mother’s life upon them bore fruit as these people saw their need of the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Memories of mother may truly bring us back home to the simple things. Perhaps it will bring us back to the kingdom of God. On Mother’s Day, a good confession might be: “ 0 mother, when I think of thee, ’Tis but a step to Calvary. Thy precious hand upon my brow Is leading me to Jesus now.” Many will remember their moth er’s songs. They will feel a mother’s influence in the song she sang in their childhood, remembering perhaps her voice in the church choir. Maybe the songs and hymns of the country par lor, sung there by mother and father and all the children, will come back to memory. Others will remember their moth er’s prayers. It is surprising how many of the “ great” of earth have attributed their greatness to the in fluence of their mothers. Abraham
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