Tribute to Mothers, Wives and Womanhood

MOTHERS & WOMANHOOD

Woman
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Woman
by Matthew Henry

Woman was made from the rib of man.

She was not created from his head to top him,

nor from his feet to be stepped upon.

She was made from his side to be equal to him,

from beneath his arms to be protected by him,

near his heart to be loved by him.

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Proverbs 31:10-30
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Proverbs 31:10-30

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

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Titus 2:3-5
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Titus 2:3-5

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

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A Mother's Prayer :)
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A Mother's
Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where they're at
and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know--
I must have lost them long ago!

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Reflections of a Mother
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Reflections of a Mother
	I gave you life, but cannot live it for you. I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you. I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it. I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you. I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside. I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you. I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish. I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor. I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you. I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure. I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation. I can tell you about drinking, but I can't say "no" for you. I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them. I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you. I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious. I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral. I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family. I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord. I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life . . . and I will!!! With the love and strength from Jesus Christ our LORD. I love you. Always, Mom Author Unknown

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What in the world I did today?
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One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house.
	His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house.
		Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.
			In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
			He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened.
				He found her lounging in the bedroom, still curled in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked,
		"What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and ask me what in the world I did today?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply.
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

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The Mother's Watch
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The Mother's Watch
She never closed her eyes in sleep 'til we were all in bed. On party nights 'til we came home she often sat and read. We little tho't about it then, when we were young and gay, how much Mother worried when we children were away.
We only knew she never slept when we were out at night and that she waited just to know we'd all come home all right. Why sometimes when we'd stay away 'til one or two or three, it seemed to us that Mother heard the turning of the key.
For always when we'd step inside she'd call and we'd reply. But we were all too young back then to really understand just why. Until the last one had returned she always kept a light, for Mother couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight.
She had to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best. More than once we heard her say, "When you are grown to women and men perhaps I'll sleep the whole night thru. Things might be different then." And so it seemed that night and day we knew a Mother's care. That always when we got back home, we'd find her waiting there.
Then came the night that we were called and gathered together 'round her bed. "The children all are with you now" the kindly doctor said. In her eyes there gleamed again that old time tender light, That told she had been waiting just to know we were all right....

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Educating the King's Children
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Educating the King's Children
from: Sing4Him52

Suppose that tomorrow morning your phone rings and the operator informs you that you have a call from Buckingham Palace, London, England. The person in England comes on the line, identifies himself as an administrator in charge of the education of the children of the king of England. He proceeds to tell you that he has had observers around the United States looking for the perfect tutor for the king's children.

After many months of evaluation, he has determined that you are the one best qualified to tutor the royal offspring. Would you please fly to England at your earliest convenience to discuss assuming these responsibilities? Now, as a matter of fact, you just happen to have some ideas about raising children and you are excited and eager to take the job.

You fly to England and sign a contract. But before you begin your job, the administrator says you are going to have to take two weeks of intensive study to learn the finer points of raising the king's children. During this time, you learn that children of royalty adhere to a different curriculum than most other children. They must not only learn to read and write, gain maturity and be proficient in many fields of academic endeavor. They must also be familiar with the history of their country and of western civilization. They must learn how to function in the royal court. They must know how to treat their subjects with consideration and tact. They must learn to relate to the heads-of-state of other countries. They must learn about political amenities and that their time is not always their own. They may not get to play in the street with other children. They will not be exposed to crudity or vulgarity. They will learn to be moral, true, honest, gracious, kind, gentle, and yet strong in their convictions.

When the two weeks are completed, you begin a successful career of raising the children of the king. In later years, you are honored for having attained your goals. The king commends you and his children commend you for your devotion and hard work.

A fanciful story you may say. But let me suggest this: if you have children in your home, you have already received a call to raise royal offspring. The call did not come from Buckingham Palace, it has come from the throne of Almighty God! You do not have to go to London to do your tutoring, you can do it in your own home with the children God gave you to raise. Your children may not serve in English courts, but they have the potential to serve in the kingdom of God as sons and daughters of God. When your children accept Jesus Christ as Savior, they become members of the Kingdom of God. There is no higher ranking in all the world. You may not live in a palace on earth, but your children can live in palaces in heaven if you do your job right.

Give your children the very special training God's children ought to have.
Teach them to obey, to be gentle and kind, but powerful for righteousness and morality. Teach them the Bible, teach them how to pray, teach them to put others before themselves as Jesus did.
Teach them to obey God's commands and to have a perfect heart before God.
Keep them away from worldly influences,
train them to be men and women of spiritual power in God's kingdom.
Most importantly, teach them how to become Christians,
and how to share the Gospel with others!
Make it your goal to have your Master someday say to you,
"Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).
Seek the reward of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31,
whose children rise up and call her blessed (Prov. 31:28).
Or set your heart on the reward of the grandfather
whose children's children are his crown (Prov. 17:6)

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Make Me A Better Parent
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Dear Heavenly Father,

Make me a better parent.

Teach me to understand my children,
to listen patiently to what they have to say
and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them,
talking back to them and contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.

Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and to ask of them forgiveness when I know that I have done them wrong.

May not I vainly hurt the feelings of my children.

Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes
or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment.

Let me not tempt my child to lie and steal.

So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.

May I cease to nag;
and when I am out of sorts,
help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

Blind me to the little errors of my children,
and help me to see the good things that they do.

Give me a ready word to honest praise.

Help me to grow up with my children,
to treat them as those of their own age,
but let me not expect of them the judgments
and conventions of adults.

Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity
to wait upon themselves,
to think, to choose and to make decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them
for my selfish satisfaction.

May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable
and have the courage always to withhold a privilege
which I know will do them harm.

Make me so fair and just,
so considerate and companionable to my children
that they will have a genuine esteem for me.

Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children.

Amen.
Author unknown

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The Angel
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THE ANGEL Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day he asked God: "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God replied "Among the many angels, I have chosen one especially for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child said "But here in Heaven, I don't do anything but sing and smile and that's enough for me to be happy." God said "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. You will feel your angel's love and be happy." The child asked "How am I going to understand when people talk to me, if don't know the language they speak?" "Your angel will teach you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak", God replied. "What am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" questioned the child. God responded "Your angel will place your hands together and teach you how to pray." "I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?" the child asked. Again, God answered "Your angel will defend yo, even if it means risking her own life." The child responded "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you" God answered. At that moment, there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child, in a hurry, asked softly: "Oh, God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." God replied "Your angel's name is of no importance. You will call your angel Mommy."

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Mothers Wisdom
Things My Mother Taught Me
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Things My Mother Taught Me
Mothers Wisdom

My Mother taught me LOGIC...
"If you fall off that swing and break your neck,
you can't go to the store with me."

My Mother taught me MEDICINE...
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes,
they're going to freeze that way."

My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD...
"If you don't pass your spelling test,
you'll never get a good job!"

My Mother taught me ESP...
"Put your sweater on,
don't you think that I know when you're cold?"

My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE...
"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you.
Don't talk back to me!"

My Mother taught me HUMOR...
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes,
don't come running to me."

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me ABOUT SEX...
"How do you think you got here?"

My mother taught me about GENETICS...
"You are just like your father!"

My mother taught me about my ROOTS...
"Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE...
"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

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."

AND my all time favorite thing- JUSTICE...
"one day you will have kids, I hope they turn out just like YOU,
then you'll see what it's like!"

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