All the young kids, I'll go with my wife. All the little kids, there you go. Mrs. Barbosa, just come. If you could stand and open your Bibles to 1 Kings 3, verse 16. 1 Kings, right there, right there. Can you see it? 1 Kings 3, verse 16. It's a privilege to be up here to read the Word of God. Thank you. Amen. Then came two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him. And one woman said, oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And I was delivered a child with her in the house. And it came to pass, the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also. And we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house. save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night, because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it at her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I arose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead. But when I considered it in the morning, behold, Thank you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for this special day. Thank you, Lord, for our mothers. Lord, some of our mothers already went to heaven, but we have mothers here today, others online watching. I pray for motherhood, Lord. What an honorable place to be, to be a mother. and pray for them, bless them, help them along the way. And Lord, I pray for single moms. Lord, you struggle. You try to be mom and dad at the same time. Pray for them as well. We always respect our mothers, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated. So, real mothers stand up in adversity. That's the title of the message this morning. Real mothers stand up in adversity. And we see right here this happening. There was a youth pastor who decided to do a survey if Mother's Day was only celebrated in America or throughout the world. Mother's Day in Portugal was actually last weekend. But he did a study, so he went online and tried to communicate with people. This was what he got. In the Netherlands, we also celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday. Jacob Thomas' name. Mother's Day is celebrated in Finland on Sunday, May 12. Mother's Day is celebrated in Germany, and as far as I know, in most European countries this Sunday, Joanne, that's her name, I'm pretty sure that most of the Latin Americans celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday. We celebrate it in Brazil. Last Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day, May 5th, in Spain. Mother's Day is also celebrated in South Africa on Sunday, 12th. Hello, I just wanted to let you know that Mexico Mother's Day is this Friday, May 10th. Here in Uruguay, South America, we are going to celebrate Mother's Day next Sunday, says George. You can add Ecuador to this list because we celebrate this Sunday as well Mother's Day. So we celebrate in Europe like in Austria where I am says Claudia. We celebrate Mother's Day in Singapore says Sally. We celebrate Mother's Day in the Philippines in our church and said United Methodist Church. That's what she says. Her name is Bat. In Costa Rica, Mother's Day is celebrated in mid-August. Vikiran. In Slovakia, we celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday as well, Selskali. We celebrate Mother's Day in Indonesia, says Iran. Mother's Day is celebrated this Sunday in Japan too. It is, if I'm not mistaken, we celebrate Mother's Day in Antarctic. And this Sunday, of course, is Mother's Day here where I am. So this young man decided to do a survey if Mother's Day is really a holiday or a day celebrated throughout the world. And believe it or not, it's celebrated in most countries. Some countries are a little different from here, but most countries is out right there on May the 12th. Ironically, today is my sister's birthday. She was born on Mother's Day. So I said happy birthday to her. I don't know if she's watching or not. I say my oldest sister. Well, I'm the oldest. So of the girls, she's the oldest girl. So we have two girls in the family. She's the oldest. I always say my oldest sister. Her birthday is today. Her name is Suzanne herself. Anyway, so we're going to look about Mother's Day. I think motherhood should be celebrated. My heart goes to single moms who struggle to raise their children, have to be mom and dad, working moms. You have to leave the home to go to the workplace because the finances in the home. I say to the man, if your wife is a working mom that goes, I mean, don't misunderstand me here. If you stay home and see what the mother does at home, you want to go back to work. You know, I did that for five years when we were raising our kids. I tell you, it was not an easy thing to take care of kids. That's why, I don't know, the way the Lord, you know, designed man and woman, my hats to ladies and to what they do in motherhood. But my heart goes to those mothers who raise their children but go to work. and single moms as well. And of course, families, you have their children, and it's not easy to raise their children these days, especially in a very expensive economy. But I tell you what. I praise the Lord for you and motherhood and enjoy your day and if your kids are left out of the house if they stay home enjoy the day because motherhood is a wonderful privilege and don't let people say it is not it is a wonderful privilege. So this morning we're going to look at a thing right here about motherhood and we see mother standing up when is necessary. One of the defining moments of the reign of Solomon as a wise king is to identify the real mother of two mothers that come to him to dispute who's the child. So he got the real mother to identify herself by forcing her to take a stand. When he stood up for her child, when she stood up for her child, she showed herself to be a true mother. And remember, those days are not like today, you know, because there's all kinds of tests that can be done. Those days are much different. We have to get our minds to go back in biblical times. So in the threatened moments that endanger her child, the love of a mother will search for the wisdom and justice. So the proposition is when the chips are down, real mothers stand up. On this special Sunday, let me share with you three morals about truth to life and motherhood. Number one, if you'd like to follow the outline, mothers do make mistakes. Kids, if you're watching online, if you're here, mothers make mistakes. When I was a little boy, I thought that my mother was the most perfect woman in the whole wide world. She was beautiful. She was kind to me. She fed me. She hugged me. She cleaned my boo-boos when I scratched my knees. She fixed my pants when they were all ripped out because I was, you know, God knows what I was doing. She wiped my tears. She encouraged me when I was discouraged. She stood up for me when I needed. My mother was just perfect. I could trust my mom. Mom was mom, you know. She would get my clothes and she would say to me, what do you want to wear today? And then she would go. She would iron my clothes. She would dress me up. Mom was mom, you know. She was there. She was perfect. That was until I became an adult. Then I realized that my mother made mistakes just like me. She made decisions I didn't agree with her. It came a time in my life that I realized that my mother was a sinner just like I am. Let me say something for the record here this morning. Mothers are not perfect, neither are you. Okay? Your mother is a sinner just like me and you, but we are called to love our mothers and honor our mothers. If you look at our story here this morning, you will notice that there are two mothers in our story. One lost her child, and the other one did not. The mother that lost her child switched the children with the other mother. The question is, why did she do that? Well, I'm not going to elaborate on this, but about her actions, and I don't agree with her actions, what she did. But you can imagine what went on in the mind of this woman when she found out that her baby was dead. Can you imagine? She get up in the morning, and her child was dead. What about you if you were a mother? How would you react? You know, just think about it. I mean, she was probably horrified and heartbroken. She was probably desperate. She probably cried quite a bit. And she decided to do the unthinkable because she wanted her child. In her desperation, she switched the children with the other mother. Folks, this mother made a big mistake. This mother was not a perfect mother, just like every mother is not a perfect mother. Get this, when the children are born in this world, they don't come with an instruction manual. Follow that? When a mother is expecting a child, when the mother delivers a child, it doesn't come with a manual like we have when we buy a car. And we don't look at it anyway. But you know, it comes with how to do, how to raise it. Every day is a challenge. Every day is a new thing. Every day is an adventure. And we learn as we go along the way. That's why when we become a grandpa or a grandma, you just take it easy and you watch it, because you've been there. You go like, oh yeah, okay. You've been there, you already know what it is. You know, but when you were doing it, there was no manual. So hats off to mothers, okay? Get this, when children are born to this world, they don't come with a manual. And more than likely, most every mother really doesn't know what she's getting herself into when the baby arrives. Every day is a new adventure. I mean, like I said, every day is a new thing. Every day is a learning curve. So mothers are not perfect. Okay. No mother is perfect. Every mother makes mistakes. What we call to do as children to honor our mothers and to love our mothers, regardless of her imperfections. Because one day most of us will become fathers and mothers. And on one day, the same thing, our children will think you're perfect until they grow up. And they say, well, my mom makes mistakes. Yes, they do. But you know what? We're not called to point the mistakes, we're called to love them. So love your mother. What about if your mother already passed away? Forget about the mistakes and think about the good memories that you have with your mom. When she hugged you, when she said, I love you, you know, when she told you no, and all those things. Love your mother. Number two. Mothers do expect the changes. I vividly remember when my mother was expecting my young sister, my young sister, Grace. I was a little boy, but I noticed that the changes in my mother's body. I remember her saying that she couldn't pick me up anymore. Oh, that was an awful day. My mom used to have the habit of picking me up. And she said, I'm too heavy. I can't do it anymore. It was devastating. Mama could not pick me up anymore. She could hug me, but she couldn't pick me up. I remember when my own wife was expecting our three children, I remember the change in her body. I understand that it's part of motherhood. But I praise the Lord for a mother willing to carry that long nine months of a baby and commit herself to raise that child. Don't you glad for your mother? I'm grateful for my mother. Listen to the change in motherhood. Physically, they adopt their bodies. Emotionally, they extend their love. Socially, they alter the activities and commitments. Intellectually, they expand the understanding of children. Spiritually, they realize a greater need for God's help. Real mothers are godly mothers who trust the Lord with the raising of their children. The common fallacy among women is that simply having children make one a mother, which is absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician. Yes, any mother can carry a baby for nine months, but it takes the real task of motherhood in one where a mother stays and raise her children. The most important occupation in the earth, to me, my own opinion, is motherhood. What a great privilege to be called a mother. I'm not a mother, I'm not a woman, but what a great privilege to call a mother. You know, if you are a homemaker, be proud to say, I'm a homemaker. If you're a single mom, don't shrink your shoulders, be proud, you're a mom. If you're a working mom, be proud as well. You're able to raise your kids and go to the workforce. What a wonderful privilege to be called a mother. And it should be great. It is a great thing. It's a God-given thing. Isn't that good when your kids goes, Mom, Mom, Mommy, Mom? I remember when my mother used to call my phone name. That means I was in trouble. I remember I used to call, Mom, Mom. She wants you to call my sister by her full name. I was going, you're going to get it. The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a real mother to her children. It doesn't have much glory in it, or some people think, but I tell you what, when it comes to the end of life and your children are grown up, You're going to say it was worth it. It was worth to be a mother. Number three, mother knows. Mother knows. 1 Kings 3.21. And when I rose in the morning to give my children suck, behold, he was dead. But when I consider in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said nay nay, but the living is my son and the dead is thy son And this said no, but the dead is thy son and the living is my son Thus they spake before the king. So they're going back and forth arguing with each other Then the king said to the the one said this is my son that liveth in and this is thy son uh thy son that is uh Son is dead and the other said nay, but thy son is dead and my son is living The true mother in our text this morning examined her child in the morning. When she sensed something was wrong, the mother looked closely at the child that she knew. Though her grief, she looked and discovered that it was not hers. in moments when things are wrong concerning your child a mother ought to look at her child and believe me one of the things you might not think about that you might as a mother even think about that but one of the few the first things a mother does when the child is born she inspects the child she looks at the child she gets to know her child you're not going to switch that child I remember this thing when my son Patrick was born he had an infection They wouldn't take the baby out of the room. I was there. And me, in my own wisdom, I said, how am I going to know this is my son? You know, I was concerned they were going to switch it. And they said, well, he has a bracelet in his ankle. My wife looked at me and said, I know who's my son. She didn't mention no bracelet. But I mean, I needed a bracelet. I'm not a mom, you know, but I remember that I thought, you know, they put a bracelet, I think, sometimes they put it in a wrist, but they put it in his ankle. He said, because I was considering not taking my son out of me, you know. I heard these funny stories out there. But imagine mom said, I know my son. Don't worry. She calmed me down and she didn't get it. She just calmed me down. So this mother did what other mothers have done for centuries in time of uncertainty or headache. She looked at her child closely at the first opportunity. The examination in the daylight revealed that the child was not hers. She knew. A true loving mother cares about her child and she knows when something is wrong. Did you ever hear the expression mother knows? Yes, a good living mother knows when things are wrong with her. If I walk in my mom's house, my mom knows if I was upset. My mom knows if things were not going good. My mother knows when I was a clown. My mother knew. I mean, mothers know. They raise you up. They know. Yes, a good loving mother cares and knows about her children. The true mother, this account, had examined her child before. That's why she was able to detect the dead from the living. From the earliest moment of her birth, it is not unusual for a mother to start looking at her child. This mother obviously looked early at her child and when that event happened she knew that was not her child. So a real mother, a real caring mother, loving mother will continue to examine her child as the child grows up. A mother is a mother for the rest of her life. Motherhood is not a temporary condition. Once mother, always mother. And I don't care what kids say, mother, I'm an adult. Mom, I'm an adult now. I need to get my own life. I'm going to grow up. Listen, listen, I learned that, and I'm much older now. Once a mother, always a mother. And when you walk in the house, it's not, oh, look at my son and my daughter that grow up. It's my child. I say the same thing about my own children. I have some already married, and guess what? When I look at them, I still see my little kid, my little boy and my little girl. That's why I call my daughter my princess. She's mom and she's a mother of two kids, three kids. But you know, it's just something in the heart of the parent that does that. Once a mother, always a mother. Moms, do you agree with me? Okay. This mother was going to get her son because she knew him well enough to detect the fraud. So experience tells us that mothers examine their children. They do. So she would suspect when he was sick. She would detect when he was afraid. My mom did that to me. She would inspect when he seemed confused. I remember some days, especially my teenage years, I walk home. Mom said, what's the matter? You lost today? That's when I used to play soccer. Yeah, we lost. and she would give me a hug. I said you can do better next week. You know she would encourage you. That was mom. You know mom did those things. They knew when you walk in you know those things. So letter A. Things only a mother can teach. Only mothers can teach this okay. Look at this. My mother taught me about anticipation. Just wait until your father gets home. My mother taught me about receiving. You are going to get it when we get home. My mother taught me about meet the challenge. What are you thinking? Answer me. I'm talking to you. Don't talk back to me. My mother taught me about logic. Because I said so, that's why. My mother told me about medical science. If you don't stop crossing your eyes, you are going to freeze that way. My mother told me about thinking ahead. If you don't pass your spelling test, you will never get a job. My mother told me about ESP. Put your sweater on. Don't you think I know when you're cold? My mother told me about becoming an adult. If you don't eat your vegetables, you will never grow up. My mother told me about genetics. He's just like your father. My mother told me about roots. Do you think you were born in a barn? My mother told me about wisdom of age. When you get to be my age, you will understand. Oh, I heard that all the time. My mother told me about justice. One day, you're going to have kids and I hope that you're not just like you. My mother told me about religion. You better pray that it will come out of the carpet. You better pray that will come out of the carpet. My mother told me about time travel. If you don't straight up, I'm going to knock you out to the middle of next week. My mother told me about foresight. Make sure you wear clean underwears in case you have an accident. My mother told me about science of, what is that? Omniscience? Shut your mouth and eat your supper. My mother told me about stigma. You will sit there until all the spinach is finished. My kids don't like vegetables. My mother told me about the weather. It looks as if a tornado has swept through your room. My mother told me about hypocrisy. If I told you once, I told you a million times, don't exaggerate. My mother told me about the circle of life. I brought you into this world and I can't get you out of this world. My mother told me about envy. There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have the wonderful things that you have or wonderful parents just like me and your father. We learned that from mother, don't we? And we love them. I don't see my mother said all this, but you know, you can put yourself into this, what mother used to say. My mother was very famous. Wait until your father get home. And when my father got home, we were like, and mom would look at us with those eyes, you know, like if she's going to tell, most of the time she never told anything, unless it was something really serious. And we were like, I'm going to die today. Oh goodness, oh the things that mother do. You know what? For some reason somehow we got so attached to them and we love our mothers. So point number four, mother is selfless. A mother is selfless. We see this here in these verses it says, and the king said bring me a sword and they brought a sword before the king and the king said divide the living in two and give half to one and half to the other. that speak the woman who's the living child was unto the king for her bowels yearned and her son for upon her son and she said oh my lord give her the living child and in no wise slay it but the other but but the other said let it neither be mine nor thine but divide it then the king answered and said give the child the living child and in no wise slay it she is the mother thereof and all israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and if for fear the king for this so the wisdom of god was in him and to judgment so god a god caring godly mother considers their children before they think of themselves it's not about them anymore but about well-being of a child see this mother right here It's not that the king was going to do that. The king tried to bring them up to stand up. He tried to find out who's the real mother here. The real mother said, no, no, no. I prefer you give my child to this woman, but don't kill my child. The real mother stood up in a time of adversity. The real mother stood up. You know how many times my mother stood up for me? Oh, the neighborhood stood up for me many times. Things that I did through my life, my mom stood up for me. And I believe you can say the same thing. The thing, they go out of their life, they're out of their way for their children. This mother goes and does this. Many leave careers to be homemakers. Many put their dreams aside for the sake of their children. How many mothers have done that? They went through college, they spent countless hours, lots of money for their careers and here comes a child along and they put their career aside because they feel it's more important to raise a child. You know, the love of a mother. Many put their dreams aside, like I said, for the sake of their children. So mother is selfless. Letter A, they put their children's desires ahead of their own. These two mothers in this morning had desires. One lay on her child considered more important than her. So she said, take my child. And she stood up in a time of adversity. But how many mothers, and I put this with you this morning, how many mothers have put their dreams aside. They want to do this, they want to do that, and a child comes along. That bundle of joy, what a gift. What an honor to be a mother. And I'm not a woman, I'm trying to put myself in there, but I'm any woman that I know will put their careers aside, their lives aside, their dreams aside, because now they have to raise a little child. Their world is in that little child, and throughout their life, they put their love into that child, no matter how old that child is. You know, I always say to my kids, you know, the key of the door is always there. My house is always open. You can come in and out because you want to mind. Mom says the same thing to them. That's the way we see our children. You know, let it be. They defend the defenseless. Children are defenseless. Unfortunately, there are many so-called mothers who instead of defending their children, they don't. But listen, they have a lot of bundle of joy. They're defenseless. They need the mother and the love of a mother. The interaction of a child when they see, I see right now with my grandchildren. Like my granddaughter, Cassandra, she play, I mean, if I get there on time, because I get home from work late, but sometimes I catch her. And, you know, I like to hold her, and I like the other one, I can kind of rough him up a little bit, you know, and he gets all hyped and ready to go home. But as soon as she walks in, I notice Cassandra, like she sees mom comes in, and her eyes are just glooming at mom. And, huh, huh, she wants mom. And there's something about mother and motherhood towards our children. But they defend the defenseless. A mother, a child needs the help of a mother. And a mother's there to protect their child. They come, become like big lions. They're there to defend their child. Don't you dare touch my child, they say. You know, you want to see, you want to see that the defense of a mother is when their child is in danger, the way they step up. A mother who allows her child to be born into this world is a mother that has to be applauded. A mother that works and raises her children is a mother that needs to be applauded. A single mom is a mom that needs to be applauded. A mother that becomes a homemaker is a mother that needs to be applauded. We put our hands and applaud motherhood. What a wonderful thing it is to be a mother. So then let us see they need God's boundaries. There are normal factors that God has placed to help mothers. Mothers are to close their hearts in motherhood in an institution that is highly praised. In an imperfect world, a mother needs to introduce that child to the Lord Jesus Christ to make them understand there is a God that loves them and cares about them. What are those boundaries and hopeful confines of operation? Number one, God provides a boundary of a family. Mankind is social and needs the influence of a community outside of the fellowship with God and the bounds of marriage. The family is the most basic unit of community. Family was accepted, limits in expectation for its members. So mother needs those boundaries in order for the order of God to call for to a place. A mother, a woman preparing for motherhood is really building their family. Let me tell you, if you are a single mom, don't you think you're not a family? You are a family. You are a mother, you have a child. If you are a mother that goes to work, of course you're still a mother. Don't you think you are inferior because you have to work? Whatever you do as a mother, you're still a mother. It's important to know that because there are many young ladies out there that unfortunately became single moms and they think, oh, oh, look at me. I'm like, no, no, you're still a mother to that child. You are the mother. You are family. And you know what? And that child have a godly father. Introduce your child to that father. Number two, God provides a boundary of fatherhood. A child needs a father as well as a mother. If a woman is unmarried or a widow, God himself is the father that will shape her life. Introduce that child to the Lord Jesus Christ and let him be a spiritual father to that child. What a wonderful thing you can give to your children to introduce them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Number three, God provides the boundaries of a church. Listen, a church is not unearthed by accident. A church is on earth for many things. Can a can a child grow in the church and know to love the lord? Yes, or look about it. I'm telling you one one was samuel The mother let him stay in the church and he grew up in the church in that one You never heard a complaint about samuel to say well look what my mother did to me that mother won't see that child But you know what that mother did something great for that child introduce him to the lord jesus christ He became a prophet of the Lord. I'll tell you what the church has can do great things for the family of four mothers raising their children You educate your kids at home and the church reinforces that education in the bounds of the of the Bible Number four, God provides a boundary of morality. Right and wrong is learned from the pages of the Bible. Right and wrong, it can be backed up of what mom teaches. You know, it's important that a mom teaches what is right and what is wrong to their children. Lying is wrong. Stealing is wrong. Disobeying is wrong. You know, like being disrespectful to a mother or to a father, to other people is wrong. You know, all those things are wrong. They need to come up from the mother. Mother can say, don't swear, don't curse. You know, Mother can teach those things. You know that I learned those things from my mother. My mother say, don't you... She used to say to me, if I even dream that you go outside and disrespect anybody. I said, Mom, you're going to dream? Well, I live in a small community of about 1,500 people. Everybody knows everybody. If you say something bad before you know it, it travels to the house. They will find out. But you know what? Mother will reinforce those things. Mother would say those things. God provides the boundaries of morality. You know, we learn those things as mothers and reinforce them. We say, you know what? In my church, with my Bible, I can help my child. God, number five, God provides the boundaries of compassion. There's nothing like the love of a mother except the love of God. A mother stands up as a mother is a mother who cares for a child. When a child's hurt, she has compassion. It's the difference between a mother and a father, okay? A father comes home, a kid comes home, the father's sitting on the couch, whatever he's doing, and kid comes in crying, tears are coming down, he boo-boos, you know, whatever he did, scratched his toe, or did something, or fell down, and the father says, are you okay? Yeah, I'm okay. Okay, good. A mother goes, you know, the child comes in, you know, and is crying, same scenario. A mother goes, oh, what happened? Oh, and the mother's compassion just, let's clean the boo-boo, let's kiss the boo-boo, let's go. It's a big deal goes on, you know what? It's a totally different love. I wonder why most boys are very attached to their mothers more than their fathers. I was one of them. I love my dad, I love my mom, but man, I was attached to my mother. And, you know, it comes more after she passed away. That feeling is even stronger. Do I miss my mother? I do. You see, it provides a bond with compassion. You know, the laugh of a mother, the hug of a mother, it makes a whole difference in the world. My mother hugged me when I was a kid. My mother hugged me when she was an elderly. Frail, but still, I love that hug. It was a hug of protection. You know, it's a hug full of love. Listen, mothers, if your boy grows up, or if your daughter grows up, don't you think that they never need your hugs? Hug them. Kiss them. Tell them you love them. They need to hear that. They're living in a crazy world. They need your hugs. Same thing for fathers. We're not going to talk about fathers today. We're talking about moms. But moms, hug your kids. Oh, they're too old. They don't need my hugs. They do need your hugs. The hug of a mother makes a whole difference in the world. Especially when you have go, go, go on things. You know what? Here comes mom. It makes a whole difference. I remember a movie that I watched. This man walks in the restaurant as a critic. You know, watch to criticize the food. And he walks in this restaurant. soon as he put the, he said, homemade food, the way your mother used to make it. And soon as he puts the fork in his mouth, I mean, it's a movie, his mind went, 20 was like five years old. And he reminded mother with the plate coming and say, I made this specially for you. The memory of mothers in the minds of their children. God provides a boundary of compassion. Mothers are compassion. They love, they go out of their way to help their kids. There's nothing like the love of a mother, like I said, except the love of God. The mother who stands up for her children is a mother that cares. Stand up for your children when they're discouraged. Stand up for your children when they're hurting. Stand up for your children when they're confused. Stand up for your children when they say, I'm stupid, like the guy in the video. Stand up for your children when they think their life doesn't make sense anymore. Pray for your children, no matter how old they are. Pray for them, the Lord will protect them, put a hatch of protection around them. You know, my kids are not here, but I tell you what, it's not a day that I don't hear my wife praying for her children. Not only that, I don't pray for them too. They need our prayers, don't they? My mother used to say to me, I used to call my mother almost every day. And my mother used to say to me, I pray for you. That was the first words. I pray for you today. I pray for you every day. And I used to say, okay, mom. Okay, mom. But you know what? I love those words and I miss those words. Because it's, you know, the love of a mother makes a big difference. My mother's praying for me. And one thing she used to say, I think about you almost every day. Here's one thing that God calls us to do, to love our mothers and to honor their names. Like I said in the beginning, I conclude with this. There's no perfect mother. No, there's not one. They make mistakes like we do. But we as children, we ought to forgive those mistakes. We ought to honor their name. We ought to love them. They need your love. Your children, we as children, we need their love, but they need your love too. Sometimes they feel lonely. Sometimes they feel like nobody cares. Sometimes they might feel that their own children don't love them. We need to share and show them that we care. So today, if your mother's miles away, call her and say, Mom, I love you. Happy Mother's Day. If your mother's in heaven, just think of her. Not the bad, but the good. If your mother's close by, go see her. And say, Mom, I love you. Give her a hug. Give her a big bear hug, you know, like big, big one. Tell her how much you love her. She needs that. Mothers need those hugs. So real mothers stand up. Motherhood is not an easy thing. It's very hard work, a lot of commitment. So our hats go off too. Motherhood today if your mother here today Congratulations. Happy Mother's Day. Let's pray heavily father. Thank you Lord for motherhood I'm not a mother but Lord I see I seen in the life of my grandmother and my mother and my wife And many other mothers in the church motherhood, what a hard task But what an honorable place to be I pray for the mothers in our church bless them Lord Protect them, watch over them, Lord. Give them wisdom to go to you as they raise their children. That they raise you, they raise their children, Lord, based on your word. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. If you could stand, please. We're gonna sing a song, and before you leave, mothers, don't leave, we have a gift for you. Amazing Grace, page 336. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. T'was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears Amen. You may be seated.