Praying mothers

May 11, 2007

By William E. Richardson

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him” (1 Samuel 1:27, NKJV).

During a pastor’s prayer one Sunday, someone in the congregation let out a shrill whistle. After the service, the mother of a little boy asked her son “Whatever made you do that during the pastor’s prayer?” He answered, “I asked God to teach me to whistle and just then, He did.”

At least that mother could feel proud she taught her son to pray and trust God. Praying mothers usually do that. Mothers with first-time newborns and moms whose children now have their own youngsters know it pays to teach your child to pray.

Praying mothers never run out of reasons to pray. It’s true for the mom whose child is away part of the day at preschool. It’s true for the mother whose child is fighting a war overseas.

Every praying mother follows the footsteps of the praying mothers of Scripture. Hannah prayed for God to give her a child and He did. Of course she kept praying for Samuel after dedicating him to be raised a priest. You can be sure Jochebed prayed for Moses while Pharaoh’s daughter raised him.

Although their prayers aren’t recorded, there is no doubt mothers in the Bible, from Rebecca to Ruth to Jesus’ mother, Mary, prayed for their children.

After years of seeing no improvement, praying mothers cling tightly to that final thread of hope. They keep praying and they keep expecting the answer.

Ruth Graham never quit praying and believing for her prodigal son, Franklin. He strayed for years, with no hint of shedding the rebel life. One day, after a long gap between her first and final prayers for his improvement, after years of patient endurance without seeing results, Franklin turned around. When he did, he made an extreme about-face.

Praying mothers understand motherhood isn’t a job they can do alone. They know they and God work together. They understand with either one child or many, God gives the gift of children and the wisdom to raise them. I see that application in this poem by John Oxenham:

Is your place a small place? Tend it with care! — He set you there.
Is your place a large place? Tend it with care! — He set you there.
Whate’er your place, it is not yours alone, but His who set you there.

If you identify your mother as a praying mother, you have much to honor her for this coming weekend. It would be a perfect time to thank her for some of the ways her prayers have influenced your life.

If you are a praying mother, whatever ages your children are, I know you have many answered prayers to thank God for.

William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.