a mother's love - St. James Westminster Anglican Church, London

All through secondary school he never missed a practice or a game,yet remained a bench-warmer all four years.His faithful mother was always in the stands, always had words of encouragement for him.It was time for the young man to go to college.When he got to the university campus, he decided to try outfor the football team as a “walk-on”.Everyone was sure he would never make the cut, but he did.The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster, not because of his ability,but because he seemed to put his heart and soul into every practice,and at the same time, provided the other team memberswith the spirit and hustle they badly needed.The news that he survived the cut thrilled him so muchthat he rushed to the nearest phone and called his mother.His mother shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.This persistent young athlete never missed practiceduring his four years at college, but he never got to play in one game.It was the end of his senior football season,and as he trotted onto the practice field before the big playoff game,the coach met him with a fax.The young man read the message and became deathly silent.Swallowing hard he mumbled to the coach:“My mother died this morning. Is it alright if I miss practice today?”The coach put his arms around his shoulder gently, and said:“Take the rest of the week off, son.And don’t even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.”Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind,a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker roomand pulled on his football gear.As he ran onto the sidelines,the coach and his teammates were astoundedto see their faithful teammate back so soon.

Approaching the coach, he said:“Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today.”The coach pretended not to hear him.There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game.But the young man badgered him constantlyand finally, feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in:“All right” he said, “you can go in.”Before long the coach, the players, and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.This little unknown, who had never played beforeran, passed, blocked and tackled like a star.His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied.In the closing seconds of the game, the kid intercepted a passand ran all the way for the winning touchdown.The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him unto their shoulders.Such cheering you never heard.Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room,the coach noticed that his young hero was sitting quietly in the corner all alone.The coach came up to him and said: “Kid I can’t believe it.You were fantastic!Tell me, what got into you? How did you do it?”He looked at the coach, tears in his eyes, and said:“Well, you knew my mum and dad had died, but did you know mum was blind?”The young lad swallowed hard and forced a smile:“Mum came to all of my games, but today, from heaven, was the first timeshe could see me play and I wanted to show her I could do it.”Parents are often anxious and fretful, over-worked and under-appreciated.They stay up late at night waiting for the garage door to open.They bother their children for their report cardsand read them as though under a magnifying glass.They worry desperately when something is amiss in their kids’ lives.Mothers especially so.How can more demands be put on them?God alone knows.

There is this great passage from Proverbs listing all the dutiesand expectations of a faithful wife and mother ... in 1,000 B.C.She is a business person (yes, way back then many women had those roles),she organizes the household, she cooks, sews, keeps the wicks on the lamps trimmed.And I love these words:“She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy ...Her children rise up and call her blessed.”Her children, our children, need an incredible amount of emotional, spirituaand moral support.There will probably always be someone around to feed them and dress them but there won’tbe many around to cheer them on, support them, encourage them, day in, day out.I believe that every single person desperately needs someone to believe in them.God believes in us.God’s special and most difficult role for Mothers is that they go to the wall for us,often supporting us when it is foolish and illogical to do so.Not every mother, but most mothers.A young girl tells the short story about the day her mother got so madthat she yanked the plate off the table and all the mashed potatoes flew into the air.And why would the mother be so violent?Megan goes on ...“Well, mommy told my older brother, Mike ( he’s 11 years old)to eat the potatoes on his plate and he said, “Later”.And then she told him again to eat the potatoes and Mike said, “Soon”.And then she told him he had better eat those potatoes right now and he said, “In a minute”.And then she stood up and Mike finally took a bite and told her,“How can I eat them? They’re cold!”It’s not easy being a mom. It’s a lot easier to fling the potatoes than sit in the bleachers.May God grant you wisdom and patience from on high.I ask that God touch you in this parable today ...that you may remember itwhen you are dog-tired, frustrated, let-down, even angry with your children.I ask that God will give you the love, the energy and the strength to respond.If you remember today’s tender story and live it out in all of your relationships,God will truly bless your family.God bless us all! Amen.