Retired Senior Minister Bob Russell delivered “A Prayer for Mom” on Mother’s Day, 2004. Happy Mother’s Day!

Thank you, Lord for this opportunity to pay tribute to our mothers.

Thank you for those who endured the disfiguring of the body, morning sickness, months of discomfort, anxious moments and excruciating pain to bring us into the world. We were oblivious then.

We give you thanks for her endurance now.

Heavenly Father; You said, “In pain you will bring forth children.”

It’s obvious that prophecy wasn’t limited to labor pains. There is ongoing emotional pain that every mother experiences. And today we want to pause and thank You, and them, for the hurt they tolerated for us.

Thanks that our mothers climbed out of bed at 3 a.m. to feed us when we were hungry and held her nose to clean up after us when we were sick. We weren’t capable of saying thanks then. We do now.

Thanks that our mothers sat on hard bleachers in the hot sun for hours to see us perform for a few seconds and then fought back tears when we struck out. Or agonized during a missed note in a recital and then reassured us on the way home that we did great.

Forgive her, Lord, when she when she wasn’t totally truthful, but she knew what we needed to hear. We were probably too immature to say thanks then–we do now.

It’s not pleasant to repeatedly correct improper behavior, tolerate insolence and stay up late worrying about a teenager’s safety. We resented her sometimes then–we say thanks now.

Lord, it had to hurt when she worked for hours preparing a special meal, no one said anything positive when it was over in 15 minutes and everyone went their selfish way while mom was left to clean up alone. She must have felt so taken for granted then. We say thanks for her sacrifices now.

Thanks for moms who taught us about the Bible. We never even dreamed that she could be tired and would just as soon put us to bed without reading about Moses in the bulrushes again. We thought she was in a rut then. We say thanks for her perseverance now.

Lord, it’s got to be extremely painful to see a child, who was loved and instructed about You, leave home and forsake that teaching. When a child goes to the far country, there’s a sense in which a sword pierces the mother’s soul. We laughed at her pleading then. We give you thanks for her devotion now.

Help us to find some way today to encourage her and to let her know that we finally notice and are appreciative.

For those whose mothers are no longer living, would you communicate for us and reward them accordingly? Thank you that you see what is done in secret and you have promised that one day you will reward openly.

Father, none of us has a perfect mom. Instead of blaming them for what ails us, help us to forgive and understand as we want You to forgive and understand us.

It’s in the strong but tender name of Jesus that we pray.

(Courtesy of The Southeast Outlook)

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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church, When God Answers Prayer and “Transitions.”

Sermons from Bob Russell’s preaching archives are broadcast every week on the SermonCast Channel.