Motherhood is God’s expression of love, compassion and power wrapped up in femininity, nourishment and virtue.  We remember mothers like Eve, the first mother of the Bible; Sarah who waited for generations for her promised son; Hannah, who prayed for her son; The Widow of Nain, who saw Jesus give her son back; The Syrophoenician Woman who pleaded with Jesus on behalf of her daughter; and Mary, the mother of our Lord, who stands apart from all women in history.  Mothers have found their strength in prayer and the presence of Christ.

Today, we honor God for the special gifts of womanhood and motherhood in antiquity and in modern day.  Where would we be without the courage of slave mothers, the boldness of Rosa Parks, the golden pen of Maya Angelou, the voices of Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, the heart for humanity of Mother Theresa, the prayers and preaching of Anne Graham Lotz and the visionary leadership of Michelle Obama, Janet Dennison, Lois Evans, Stephanie Carter, and many others.

I honor the legacy of my dear mother and grandmothers who live in Heaven.  I give special love and honor to my lovely sister, Sandra, and my adorable daughters, Cokiesha and Shenikwa, who are mothers in different ways to many, and Shenikwa, who is blessed to mother my beautiful granddaughters, Bailey and Brielle.   We are praying for those who recall the sweet presence of your mother who now resides in glory.

We celebrate all women who offer their wisdom as surrogate and spiritual mothers and participate in the process of mothering.

Finally, congratulations to all who are celebrating your first Mother’s Day.

Take a moment and celebrate your mother, your grandmothers, mentors and friends who have made an indelible impact on your life.  Let us pause to thank God for sending Jesus who was birthed through a woman and placed in a cradle.

God continues to use women as the great cradle of civilization-oh what a gift!

Open this precious gift and celebrate Mother’s Day every day.