Today, the global Anglican Communion celebrates Mothering Sunday. Historically, Mothering Sunday is a day of honouring mothers and Mother churches which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent. Specially called “Refreshment Sunday”. Every child, husband, family, church and society should celebrate the mothers now and always. The body of Christ temporary halt her Lenten penitential order to celebrate the mothers today. Mothers are fearfully and wonderfully made. The Lord and His Church positioned Mothers in high esteem. Therefore, mothers must live in the honour and prestige bestowed on them by Jesus Christ.
The theme for this year’s Mothering Sunday is “You Will Eat the Fruit of Your Labour (Psalm 128:2).” The theme is a prophetic statement and the mind of God for His children. God do not want us to labour in vain. We pray that as Mothers we will not labour in vain and will not bear children doomed for misfortune. Our children shall not bring us sorrow.
God is bringing a special encouragement to us in the most challenging point of our history as Nigerians. The labour, task and responsibilities of women in their homes, families, churches and society have multiplied with the scarcity of fuel, scarcity of cash, high cost of living and insecurity in Nigeria. Training of children in schools has continued to be more expensive with devaluation of our naira and high cost of fees. Feeding and providing for our families have become more challenging as income remain erratically stagnant while needs and wants are growing every day. Businessmen and women are faced with very high exchange rate of dollars, importation duties, taxes and levies. However, in all these, Beloved, do not allow anything to stop you from eating the fruits of your labour.
Temptation Hindered Eve. In Genesis 3:1-24, God formed man and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for the garden. The devil came and lured Eve to doubt, disobey and rebel against God. They lost their positions because of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. The devil is still in the business of tempting people, he makes people not to eat the fruits of their labour.
Barrenness Competition and Death Hindered Rachael: Rachael the wife of Jacob was loved by her husband but barrenness could not allow her to enjoy the fruits of her labour. She struggled with her sister Leah until God remembered and blessed her with Joseph (Genesis 30:1, 22-24). At birth of Joseph her prayer point was for God to add another son to her. Competition stepped in. She was ignorant of the potentials and destiny of her son Joseph. God answered her prayer for another son. Unfortunately, she died at the birth of her second son, Benjamin. She could not live to see her son Joseph become the Prime Minister of Egypt.
Gloriously, Jesus Restored Mary, Martha and Widow of Nain: Mary and Martha had a brother called Lazarus that was attacked by sickness and death. Their labour in serving Jesus and His disciples seemed to be wasted. But Jesus came to their rescue. The coming of Jesus changed their story from sorrow to joy as Lazarus was restored back to life. In Luke 7:11-17, a woman who had lost her husband in the past was faced with the loss of her only son. Mourners were around her as her only son was carried to be buried. She lost everything and her labour was to be in vain as a widow in that period. Jesus Christ intercepted and intervened in her matter ad raised her son to life again. God gave her opportunity to eat the fruit of her labour.
God is calling us in the year 2023 that there are better rewards coming for our labour. Mothers who have labored for their husbands, children, families and the church should never give up and accept defeat for any reason. We are re-assured under God that we shall eat the fruits of our labour,
Happy 2023 Mothering Sunday.
Written by MARTHA IBEZIM
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