The X Factor in Motherhood

120 years ago this month at a small church in Grafton, WV, in

an Episcopal Church, was a celebration of the very first

memorial to mothers. The woman who started everything

is named Anna Jarvis. She'd had a conversation with

her mother before she died and her mother said to her daughter

Anna, wouldn't it be nice if there was some memorial to

celebrate mothers every year? Three years after her mother

died in 19 O 5, Anna Jarvis had this celebration in the church

where her mother taught study school for for 20 years.

In 1910, W Virginia was the first state to celebrate

Mother's Day. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson declared

that the second Sunday in May should be deemed Mother's Day.

And so over 50 countries around the world are celebrating

mothers on this day simply because one woman and a Jarvis,

who, by the way never married and never had any children,

wanted to inaugurate a celebration on behalf of her

mother. But over the years, Anna Jarvis

became irritated at the amount of money that was spent on this

holiday, whether it be for cards, flowers or gifts.

In fact, before she died in 1948, she was arrested in New

York City for disturbing the peace because she was against

the Mother's Day celebration going on at that time.

She said these words. She said that she became

increasingly disturbed as a celebration turned into a reason

to sell greeting cards and other items.

She became known for berating people who purchased cards,

saying they were too lazy to write personal letters to the

woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world.

So if you bought a card for your mother and haven't given it to

her yet, you can go home and throw it away.

Cindy Mason, who is the director of the shrine in Grafton, WV,

said that Jarvis wished she would have never started the day

because it became so out of control.

Today, there's approximately $35 billion spent on mothers to

celebrate this day as compared to Father's Day where there's

only $22 billion spent. Not that we're getting gypped.

It's still in the billions, not millions, so that's a good

thing. But unfortunately, she and a

Jarvis became so upset because of the amount of money that was

spent to celebrate mothers. I I would like to inaugurate the

second Sunday of every month as Mother's Day, because I think

that Mother's Day is always a reminder of #1 the sovereignty

of God. That God and His sovereignty

designed specifically the womb in which you were conceived and

therefore gave you the mother He wanted you to have.

Think about that. My mom was not the perfect mom,

but my mom was the perfect mom for me because in God's

sovereignty, He designed her to nurture and to raise me.

And I'm so glad that He did. I truly am a a blessed son.

But when you think about Isaiah 66 and God says that I open and

close the womb, he tells Jeremiah and Jeremiah chapter

one verse #5 that in your mother's womb I formed you.

I designed you. I created you for a specific

purpose. Everything about what God does

has a purpose. And God designed your mom for

you. So every Mother's Day is a

reminder of the sovereignty of God.

It's a reminder of, of the joy of children.

For the Bible says in Psalm 127 that that children are a gift

from the Lord. Your children are a gift.

They're a blessing, not a burden.

And therefore Mother's Day is a reminder of the of the joy of

children. Mother's Day is, is a reminder

of the ministry of husbands, that they are to to nurture and

to care for your wives, that they are to be treated as your

most precious, as their most precious possession.

First, Peter 37 that every man is to look at his wife who is

heirs of the grace of God as the most prized possession that he

has. And so Mother's Day is a

reminder of the ministry of husbands to their wives who are

mothers, the joy of children, the sovereignty of God to

reminder of the responsibility of motherhood.

In Titus chapter 2, it says that that older women are to teach

Titus 2 · chapter mention

younger women to love their husbands, to love their

children. Why?

Because they are lovers of God and the great responsibility of

the mother is to is to love God so she can love her husband and

love her children. But unfortunately, Mother's Day

is also a reminder of the depravity and the iniquity of

man. For the Bible says these words

in the book of Proverbs, the 30th chapter, 11th verse, there

there is a generation who curses their father and does not bless

their mother. That's a generation that that we

live in. We know that because Paul tells

us the second Timothy chapter 3, that in the last days men will

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

be lovers of themselves, not lovers of of God, lovers of

pleasure, and those men will be disobedient to parents.

I find it interesting that it's the men who are disobedient to

the parents. It doesn't say the children are,

it says the men are. And then in Romans chapter 1, it

Romans 1 · chapter mention

says when God gives man over to his own sinful nature and his

own depravity, he gives them a reprobate mind.

And the men, not the children, but the men with the reprobate

mind are disobedient to their parents.

Do you know that the Bible emphasizes men being more

disobedient to their parents than children being disobedient

to their parents? We got that all mixed up today

in America. We think, well, you turned 18,

you're an adult, you're on your own, you can do whatever you

want no matter what your parents say.

Really, that's what your friends say, but that's not what your

Father in heaven says. Children ought to honor their

mother and father. That's why it's the 5th

commandment with the promise, and that's why it's the first

commandment given after the first four that determine your

relationship with the living God.

The very first place that is evidenced is how you honor and

esteem your mother and father. The very first evidence of your

love for God is your love for your mother and your father.

That's what the Lord says. Forget about what society says.

Forget about what your friends say.

What does the Bible say? And we live in an age where

there's a generation who curses their father and does not bless

their mother. Remember, it was the Lord who

condemned the Pharisees, the religious elite, because they

would not honor their mother and father.

It goes on to say in Proverbs chapter 30, these words, there

Proverbs 30 · chapter mention

is a generation who is pure in their own eyes, yet is not

washed from their filthiness. What generation that is that?

That's the same generation that curses their father and does not

bless their mother. Then he says, and there is a

generation, oh, how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids

are raised in arrogance. What generation is that?

Same generation he's characterizing the generation

that curses their father and does not bless their mother.

It's the foolish generation. And the fool of the book of

Proverbs is the unbeliever. It's the unbeliever who curses

their father. It's the unbeliever who does not

bless his mother. It's the unbeliever who lives in

disobedience to their parents, not the believer.

That's what the Bible says. And I kind of stick with what

the Bible says. I don't kind of stick.

I wholeheartedly stick to with what the Bible says.

And we all should do that in the Bible says these words.

In the book of Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 10 verse #1A

Proverbs 10 · chapter mention

foolish son is grief to his mother.

In Proverbs 15 verse #20 it says a foolish man, not child.

A foolish man despises his mother.

That is, the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.

The fool says no to God. The fool in the book of Proverbs

is the unbeliever, not the believer.

And the fool despises his mother.

And the fool curses his father and does not bless his mother.

Proverbs 17 verse #25 says a foolish son is bitterness to her

who bore him. How's that?

And so on this Mother's Day celebrated in over 50, two

countries around the world, there's a lot of heartache in

the lives of mothers, a lot of pain in the lives of mothers

because of the depravity and iniquity of man.

But there's good news. And the good news is, is found

in in the excellent woman. And this morning I want to talk

to you about The X Factor in motherhood.

What is The X Factor? What, what is the, the, the

uniqueness about motherhood? What is it that makes motherhood

stand out? What is it that makes motherhood

so special? And through that grand

encouragement to every mother, every woman, and even every man

in the room, because you'll see where we all play a part in this

process. So if your Bible turn with me to

Proverbs chapter 31, Proverbs chapter 31, I'm not going to

Proverbs 31 · chapter mention Proverbs 31 · chapter mention

read all the verses that deal with the virtuous woman.

I'm just going to read the last 7 verses, OK?

I don't have time in one service to cover all the verses, OK?

And I didn't want to drag it out over weeks and months, so I'm

going to put it all in one sermon.

Verse 25 Proverbs chapter 31 reads as follows.

Proverbs 31 · chapter mention

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the

future. She opens her mouth and wisdom

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat

the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless

her. Her husband also and he praises

her, saying Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them

all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is

vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands and let her works praise

her in the gates. What is The X Factor in

motherhood? First of all, her character.

Her character is excellent. Verse 10, a promise 31 says an

excellent wife. Who can find?

That's the question. King Lemuel, excuse me, some

would say is just another name for King Solomon.

That might be true. If not, we don't necessarily

know who the king is. But when he writes this, he he

says that an excellent wife who can find?

Who can find a a virtuous woman, a unique and special wife.

And the word excellent in the Hebrew is the word that means

strong, spiritually strong. Who can find a spiritually

strong wife? He goes on to say this.

He says, for her worth is far above jewels.

The worth of a excellent wife goes way beyond any kind of

earthly possession. Excuse me?

You find a virtuous woman. You find an excellent wife.

You find someone who is unique, who is special.

And when you find her, she's more valuable to you than

anything you can buy on the planet.

She's more valuable to you than anything you can have on the

planet. She is far more valuable than

any earthly possession. So gentlemen, when you're, when

you're looking for a wife, you're looking for a spiritually

strong wife. Women, when you want to become a

wife, make sure you're spiritually strong.

You're right with the Lord because the Bible says who can

find this kind of woman? And then he goes on to describe

her. But her character is excellent.

Why? Because the Bible says she is.

Her strength and dignity are her clothing.

She's a spiritually strong woman.

She lives a life of integrity. And she wraps herself in this.

This is who she is. This is her character from the

inside out. She is a spiritually strong

woman who lives the life of integrity and she smiles at the

future that that's a, that's a unique woman who does that.

This is why her her character is so excellent.

It's because she trusts in the Providence of God.

She relies on the sovereignty of God.

She knows that as she in engages her family, as she raises her

children, as she loves her husband, that the future is in

God's hands, that her children are in God's hands.

So many times as mothers, we, we want to smother our our children

and, and we want to want to guide them and direct them and,

and rightly when they're in their house, you should do that.

But when they, they go off to college and they, and they get

married, you know, you got to trust the Lord to, to do a work

in their lives. You have no guarantee how

they're going to turn out, but you smile at the future because

you know the one who holds the future, that's the living God.

So you trust him and this, this excellent wife, this excellent

woman, this virtuous woman clothes herself in spiritual

strength and dignity, and she smiles at the future.

And you know that you are clothed in spiritual strength

and dignity when you can smile at the future.

In other words, she doesn't live a life of anxiety.

She she doesn't live a life of, of fear and trepidation, but she

lives a life of security because she smiles at the future.

She can't see the future. She doesn't know the future, but

she smiles at the future. Many of you know that when I was

growing up, my, my mother used to tell me, she goes, son, you

can play all the sports you want.

You can memorize all the statistics you want.

You can be the best coach around, but you're still going

to be a preacher. And I said, you got it all

wrong, mom. You have no hotline to God.

And she said to me one day, she says, you know, son, I am your

mother. And I said, yes, mom, I do know

that. And I do believe that God's

called you to preach. And although you don't know it

yet, one day you will know. And I had no idea how my mom

knew that she could not see the future.

She had no crystal ball to look into and say, I see my son

standing at Christ Community Church preaching the gospel

every week. She had no crystal ball, but she

just smiled at the future because she knew that God had a

plan for her son. She had only one son.

She had one right and she used to tell me I got one son, I'm

not going to mess him up. I only got 1.

And so she just trusted the Lord and believed in what God would

do. And you know what?

My mom was right. She was right.

She knew. She used to tell me when I

brought a young lady home from college one time she goes yet

that she's not the one. What?

How do you know that? That she's not the one.

All right, sure enough, she wasn't the one.

So a year later, about another, another young lady home from

from from college, she goes. Yeah, she's not the one either.

How do you how do you know that you know?

I don't even know that mom. How do you know that she goes?

I just know. Why?

Because she's your mom. She just knows.

I had to learn to, to trust my mom's instincts.

Intuition, call it whatever you want to call it.

Mother's intuition, I don't know.

But but she just knew. And I learned early on in

college and out of college that man, my mom was, was a lot wiser

than me, a lot brighter than me. She had life experience that I

didn't have. She had insight that I didn't

have. I had to learn to to trust my

mom. There's something about an

excellent wife, her character, it is excellent.

It's strong. But notice number 2, not just

her, her character, but her conversation.

Her conversation. If her character is excellent,

her conversation is exemplary. The X Factor in motherhood.

Listen to what it says. She opens her mouth in wisdom

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Wow, what a what a statement. She has wisdom, she instructs

wisely. And wisdom, of course, is the

application of truth to life. And so she's she knows the truth

in order to grant wisdom to her children and to teach them.

And I know that the the father is the is the prophet and priest

of his home. But but mom, let me tell you

something. You become the major teacher in

your home. You do like my mom was like my

wife was to to our children because you're around them so

much. You become the impetus by which

you you teach and train your children.

That's why the Bible says over in in Proverbs, Proverbs chapter

chapter 6. These words chapter chapter 6

verse #20 My son, observe the commandment of your father and

do not forsake the teaching of your mother, your mother,

because your mother is a teacher.

Proverbs chapter 1, verse 8. Here my son, your father's

Proverbs 1:8

instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and

ornaments about your neck. As a mother, you become such an

influence in the lives of your children, more so than than the

father, because the father's off to work.

He's he's providing for his home, he's protecting his home.

But as a mother, you are, you are home with your children.

You're invested into the life of your children.

You're teaching your children every single day.

You're building character into their lives.

So as you do that, you become the, the main teacher of their

lives because they're, they're catching what you do.

They're they're hearing what you say and you instruct them in

wisdom. It also says these words and the

teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She's a kind teacher, a kind teacher.

She's the embodiment of Ephesians 429.

She doesn't let her wholesome words proceed out of her mouth.

She's the embodiment of Colossians 4 verse #6 her her,

her speeches is graceful, seasoned with salt.

It says over in the book of Proverbs chapter 23, these

Proverbs 23 · chapter mention

words, Proverbs 23 it talks about, that's not the verse I

want. What is the verse I do want?

Ah, Proverbs chapter 15, verse 24.

Proverbs 15:24

Pleasant words are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to

the bones. How delightful?

Verse 23 is a timely word. Verse 26 Pleasant words are pure

words. This is the the virtuous woman.

This is the The X Factor in motherhood.

Her conversation is exemplary. You want to model your

conversation after your mother's conversation because she speaks

wisely and teaches kindly #3 Her character is excellent, her

conversation exemplary, her concerns are extensive and

exhaustive. Extensive and exhaustive.

Look what it says in verse #27 she looks well to the ways of

her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She's not lazy. The excellent woman, The X

Factor in in motherhood is the fact that she is not lazy.

Everything about her life is exhaustive, extensive, far

reaching. All.

All you have to do is read what this woman does.

I read it and I was exhausted. It says in verse 13 she looks

for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.

It says that she brings her food from afar.

Verse 14 That means she has to travel far to the market to to

bring it back. Verse 15, she rises also while

it is still night. So before anybody else gets up,

the sun's not even up. She is up.

Verse 16 she considers the field and buys it from her earnings.

She plants a vineyard it says. Verse 17 she girds herself with

strength and makes her arm strong.

This is 1 beast of a woman. Think about it.

She makes her arm strong. I mean she doesn't have to go to

24 hour fitness. She doesn't have to go to any

kind of workout placement. She is working so hard, her arms

are strong and and then it says she senses that her gain is

good. Verse 18 and her lamp does not

go out at night. That that means she's she's

always in tune with what's happening.

Have you ever noticed that that when your kids wake up at night

and they and they they make a sound that the father wakes up

the next day and says, I didn't hear anything.

But the mother says you didn't hear, hear him.

You didn't see him when they came to the room.

No, man, I was I was fast asleep.

I didn't hear hear a thing. But the woman, Oh no, now she's

always on edge. She's always listening.

She's always aware of what's happening.

That's what makes them so unique, so unique.

And my, my kids, when they used to come into our room at night

because they would awake, they, they never went to my side of

the bed. They went to mom's side of the

bed. And today when my kids call,

they never call and ask for dad. They call and ask for mom.

They call mom's cell phone, right?

They'll call Dad's cell phone. They call Mom.

Why? Because Mom cares, that's why.

Mom listens. She's in tune, right?

That's because she is. Her light never goes out at

night. It says in verse 20.

She extends her hand to the poor.

She stretched out her hands to the needy.

Verse 21, she is not afraid of the snow for her household, for

all our household, our clothes, the scarlet.

Think about that. She's not afraid of the snow.

That is just so weird because they live in Israel.

When does it snow in the land of Israel?

As often as it snows in Southern California.

But see, this is what makes her so exceptional, so unique.

It snows all the time on top of Mount Hermon.

It's covered with snow 12 months a year, but the land of Israel

very rarely ever gets snow. The one year on our trip to

Israel, there was snow in Jerusalem.

Not a lot, but there was snow in Jerusalem.

But that's very, very rare. And that's what makes this mom

so unique is because she see she expects the unexpected.

That's what moms do. They live in expectation of that

which is unexpected. So when the unexpected comes,

she's already taking care of that which no one thought was

coming because she's not idle, she's not lazy, she's always on

guard, she's always awake, she's always alert.

That's what makes her so unique. That's what makes The X Factor

The X Factor. It's simply is because her

concerns are extensive and exhaustive.

It goes on to say these words in Proverbs 31, verse 24.

Proverbs 31:24

She makes linen garments and she sells them and supplies belts to

the tradesmen. When does this woman ever sleep?

When does she rest? She doesn't because she relishes

motherhood. She relishes being a wife, she

relishes her call and that's why she is so unique.

So her character excellent, her conversation exemplary, her

concerns extensive and exhaustive, her children

expressive. Look what it says, verse 28.

Her children rise up and bless her.

They rise up and bless her. Her husband also, and he praises

her. But her children, they rise up

and they bless her that they stand up and they honor their

mother. Her children are expressive.

I mean, after all, look at all the things she does for them.

She, she, she gives, she gives sacrificially of her life to

them. It's no wonder they rise up and

bless her. It says over in, in Proverbs 23

verse #22 these words, Proverbs 23 verse #22 Listen to your

father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is

old. Verse 25 let your father and

your mother be glad and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

And then this is how the children respond to their

mother. I don't know where you are at

today and in your relationship with your mom, but but you need

to rise up and bless your mother, need to honor your

mother. You need to express gratitude to

your mother. Why?

Because in the sovereignty of God, she was the one God

designed for you. And some would say, well, you

know, you don't know my mom, but but think about it, reverse that

around you. You as a gift were designed for

her right? And her attitude towards you is

well, you gave me that kid. You could have give me another

kid, but no, as as a child, you should rise up and and bless

your mother, honor your mother and dads.

If if your children are not doing that, a lot of that falls

on you because you see you lead by example and you treat her as

a precious vessel in your home and you honor her as your wife

and you love her as your wife and your children.

Then then get a hold of that and realize my dad is doing this to

my mom. I need to rise up and bless her

as well. So if your children are not

doing that with your, your wife, look at your own life and ask

yourself, am I blessing her? Am I honoring her?

Am I praising her? Because that's the very next

phrase. Her husband also he praises her.

Her children expressive, Her concerns extensive and

exhaustive, her conversation exemplary.

Her character excellent. This is The X Factor in

motherhood. Her commendation.

Her commendation is exuberance. Listen to what it says.

Verse #29 Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them

all. You're the best.

You're queen of the mountain. You taught them all.

Now it says, I know it says that says her husband saying the word

saying is an italics because it's not necessarily her husband

who says this, but it's the children and the husband who

together commend her and say, many daughters have done nobody

but you, mom, you excel them all.

Many daughters have done nobody but you, my dear.

You excel them all. You're the best of the best.

It's exuberant, it's thrilling. I mean, we ought to be able to

yell with gratitude and, and, and grace and, and, and, and

great joy for the mother that God has given to us and say,

man, Mom, you excel them all. You're the best because God gave

you to me. You're the best.

And we ought to be rejoicing in the mother that God knows grace

has given us. Because if you don't, in

essence, you're saying to God, you didn't do your best.

God, you gave me kind of a little bit of a leftover.

She really wasn't that excellent.

And God never gives cheap gifts or bad gifts or weak gifts.

He just gives the best gifts. And He gave you your mom for

specifically for you and maybe for the only reason that you

would rise up and bless her and that you would say mom.

Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.

You're the best. That's her commendation, her

consecration. Her consecration is exalting and

extolling, for it says in verse #30 these words, Charm is

deceitful and beauty is vain. But a woman who fears the Lord,

she shall be praised. Her consecration, her commitment

is exalting. She exalts the Lord because she

lives in the fear of the Lord all day long.

That's that's why she can smile at the future.

That's why she can do all the things she does.

Just lives in the fear of the Lord, which is a which is a

synonym for salvation in the book of Proverbs.

She honors the Lord, she she glorifies the name, she worships

the Lord, she reveres the Lord. That's why she's praised,

because God is her number one, not her children, not her

husband, her God is #1 She realizes that all the outward

beauty comes and goes, but the fear of the Lord not staying

strong forever. And she lives in the fear of the

Lord all day long. The Bible says over in Proverbs

19 verse #23 these words, 19 verse #23 the fear of the Lord

leads to life, that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by

evil. That's why she can stay up late

at night and rise before the sun comes up and get all the sleep

she needs. Because she sleeps satisfied,

untouched by evil. Because she lives in the fear of

the Lord. The X Factor in motherhood, her

character exempt? Excellent, her conversation

exemplary, her concerns extensive and exhaustive.

Her children expressive, her commendation exuberant, her

consecration exalting and extolling.

Are you ready for this last one? Her compensation?

Chelsea's laughing at me because she typed it up.

Her compensation is extra terrestrial.

It's out of this world. It's beyond anything the world

can offer her. It's extraterrestrial.

That's her compensation. It says these words in verse 31.

Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise

her in the gates, the city gates and the celestial gates.

Remember Proverbs, Revelation 1413.

Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for they rest from their

laborers. And then it says, and their

deeds follow after them in the glory.

And here's this this this excellent wife, this one that's

hard to find her, her, her compensation is a glory.

She's not doing what she does for the love of her husband.

She's not doing what she does for the love of her children.

If they love her back, that's great, but she's not doing it

for that. She's doing it to honor the Lord

and glorify His name. She's doing it to hear those

words. Well done, thou good and

faithful servant. She does it to please the Lord,

to glorify His name. That's her motive.

That's her, her drive, that's her passion.

That's why her compensation is extraterrestrial.

It's out of this world. It's in glory.

That's why Hebrew 610 that says that the Lord is not unjust so

as to forget your work and your labor of love, which you do in

His name. God never forgets.

Romans 2, First Corinthians 4 tell us that one day God will

praise his own. She lives for that.

The X Factor Hey, let me give you a bonus one, OK?

It's an extra 1 you can take with you.

And then it's her companion, OK? Her companion is exhilarating,

thrilling companions. Her husband.

Look what it says. It says in verse #11 the heart

of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of

gain. He trusts her.

He believes in her. He supports her.

He, he, he motivates her as she buys the field and she sells the

field. As she works with her hands, her

arms become strong and, and probably she's stronger than he

is, but he's not intimidated by her strength.

He's he's exhilarated by her strength.

And, and she, he's known in the gates because of her.

His popularity is because of her.

He's not jealous of her. He's not sitting back saying

well you know what, you're getting all the glory.

I'm getting none of it. No, no, no.

He's behind her. He's supporting her.

He is there to be her number one fan.

Her companion is exhilarating. He is supporting her.

He is praying for her. He's encouraging her.

He is motivating her. She is.

He is behind her 100%. Goes on to say that she does him

good and not evil all the days of her life.

Wow, what a what a statement. She does him good and not evil

all the days of her life. That means she says good things

about him. She treats him well every day.

Says in verse 23 her husband is known in the gates when he sits

among the others of the land. Verse 28 her husband also, and

he praises her as her children praise her.

Her companion is exhilarating. Gentlemen, this is for you.

Is your wife motivated, moved along because of your support

and because of your encouragement in her life?

Are you, are you the one that, that that lifts her up and

praises her? Are you the one that, that that

helps her down her path of whatever way she may be going

that the Lord has LED her? When you come home from work,

are you saying, babe, you did a great job today with the kids?

Oh man, many daughters are have done nobody but babe, you excel

them all. You're the best.

And you come home and, and the house is a mess and, and the

kids are in disarray. And you come home and say, babe,

I'm here for you. I'm here to help clean up the

house. I'm here to help you take care

of the hey, let me bring in reservation or bring in dinner

for us tonight. Let's, let's do that.

Let me, let me take a load off. Babe, sit down.

I'll handle this because I'm here as your companion, as your

husband support you and to stimulate you and to motivate

you. And babe, I am here for you

100%. Or do you go home and say,

where's my hot meal? Why aren't the kids in order?

Why wasn't the schooling done? Who took him to practice today?

Why were you late? We can be those kind of guys.

That's not the kind of guy you need to be.

You need to be the husband that bears his wife, lifts her above

himself, esteems her. Because you see as you do that

your children are watching and they see dad is steaming, mom

protecting and providing for mom.

And they come along and they join in in the praise of their

mother because they realize what their father has done.

That is The X Factor in motherhood and that is the

reason you are so glad you came today.

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today.

We thank you for the joy of motherhood.

We thank you that as as fathers, we have our wives who are

mothers. We thank you as sons and

daughters, we have our mother. And we thank you, Lord, for your

provision. You are a great provider.

Lord, We thank you so very, very much.

Our prayer, Lord, today is that every mother in the room would

know you personally and live in the fear of the Lord all day

long, knowing that you are the God who controls the future so

that she can smile at the future.

We pray that the women of our church would be clothed with

strength and dignity and that Lord, they would be excellent

wives, and that Lord, you'd lead them each and every day.

And that as husbands, we would come alongside and we would lift

them, love them, esteem them, care for them, protect them as

only we can, and provide an example for our children so our

daughters will know this is the kind of wife I need to be.

This is the kind of man I need to marry.

And every son will know I need to marry that kind of woman.

And I need to be like my dad. We love you, Lord, we thank you

for today. In your name, Amen.