PrayerHeart

Scripture: “Honor Your Mother and Father....” Matthew 19:19

Theme: May is Mother’s Day. During the month, it would be easy to honor our mothers. So often we say things of deep love to our mothers. Sometimes, we say things of deep hurt.

Scene: The overhead will introduce the scene and then a number of people from 1 or 2 to ten will each do one of the top 10 wonder events that are part of being a mother.

On Overhead: “In this Month of May when we honor mothers, we thought we would take you though a life of a mother. So we created a Top 10 List of Events To Remember. We hope you mothers and maybe a few fathers will enjoy this stroll down memory lane or into your future.”

Lights Down and Number 10 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 10:

“The Event: A child is born. A baby comes into the world. The scene takes place in a hospital. The Cost: The pain of childbirth-OUCH! The Hospital Bill is about $10,000.

The Reality: The joy you felt knowing the product of your love was alive. The feeling of holding your baby in your arms for the first time: PRICELESS!”

Lights Down and Number 9 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 9:

“The Event: The child’s first birthday.

The cost: Lost sleep through the first few months, diapers, and formula. The cost is about $5,000

The Reality: The joy you felt seeing them with their first birthday party and cake. The love you felt when you took a picture as the candle was lit. The pictures you will treasure forever as they ate their first birthday cake by themselves was: PRICELESS!”

Lights Down and Number 8 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 8:

“The Event: For about another year or so you have been teaching them to talk. Suddenly around 2 years of age they learn the word No!

The Cost: A lot of new clothes as they are really growing. New toys at Christmas challenged your ability to follow instructions and assemble things. The cost is about $1,000.

The Reality: The joy you felt when they hug you and say Mommy or Daddy was unbelievable. Then one day, they prayed their first prayer by themselves at bedtime. It went something like this: Jesus, Amen! The joy was: PRICELESS!

Lights Down and Number 7 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 7:

“The Event: A second child is born. A sibling. Two pre-school children growing up together in a family. They grow together until one is 5 and the other 2. The older becomes a teacher for the younger.

The Cost: The price of the hospital has doubled to $20,000 and the cost of growing to 2 has risen to $7500. The good news is that the 5 year old’s costs have dropped to only about $1,000.

The Reality: The joy you felt hearing the 5 year old say I love you to the 2 year old was fabulous. Later, the 5 year old asked to help put the 2 year old to bed. You stood watching unknown to them when you heard the 5 year old say to the younger now pray with me: Jesus, I love you! Goodnight! Amen! The feeling and the smile on your face: PRICELESS!”

Lights Down and Number 6 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 6:

“The Event: Both children go outside to play in the summer. The older teaches the younger to play sports.

The Cost: About $2,000 for 5 broken windows and two screen doors you replaced in one year.

The Reality: The joy you felt when you watch them both celebrating when the youngest had their first hit and scored their first run was PRICELESS!”

Lights Down and Number 5 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 5:

“The Event: The first dinner out with your husband when the babysitter was not a relative.

The Cost: $30 for 2 hours of babysitting plus $100 for dinner.

The Reality: Spending an hour with your husband while you discussed your dreams and visions all alone over a candlelight dinner was PRICELESS!...... Even if you did discuss the children.

Lights Down and Number 4 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 4:

“The Event: After what seems like only a few weeks, they are suddenly old enough to drive.

The Cost: $2,000 for a used car for you so they could have your teen safe car plus $1,000 a year for car insurance.

The Reality: The joy you felt hearing them say Thanks Mom for trusting me. The joy was even greater each time they arrived home safe and on time. That joy eased the prayers you prayed while they were away. The joy you felt when they kissed you goodnight, said Mom you didn’t have to wait up, and then said Thanks was: PRICELESS!

Lights Down and Number 3 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 3:

“The Event: After years of indifference or disgust, your young adult has taken interest in someone of the opposite sex.

The Cost: If your child is a daughter, the cost is clothes and makeup. How can something so small cost so much? If your child is a son, it’s $100's of dollars for a date night. What happened to Happy Days when a burger and a movie went for under $10?

The Reality: The joy of seeing them treat the opposite sex with respect made you proud to be their mother. Even better was the relief you felt when they said Mom, I promise you I will wait until marriage because of you, Dad, and God. That was: PRICELESS!

Lights Down and Number 2 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 2:

“The Event: Your child is an adult and goes off to college, graduates, and goes to work.

The Cost: $100,000 in tuition fees, expenses, and allowances.

The Reality: The joy you felt when they graduated high school and college really did make you feel it was all worthwhile. How fast the time flew. Then they returned home after a year or two from work and said: Thank you Mom for everything! Those words were: PRICELESS!”

Lights Down and Number 1 on Overhead Flashing or on a Poster. A picture related to the event may also or alternately be shown. Number 1:

“The Event: Your child gets married and has their own children. You become a grandparent.

The Cost: The wedding was $15,000.

The Reality: The joy of seeing your baby get married to a wonderful adult was beyond words. There was a bit of sadness and apprehension too! But when the young couple had a child and you were a grandparent things changed. Suddenly your child said things to their children that they said they never would. Then the joy of having them come talk to you and say, Mom what do you think about this subject or that?....those conversations always ended in thanks mom and I love you bringing tears of joy to your eyes...but the chance to spend time talking to your grown child and later the first time seeing your grandchildren pray. They said: Jesus, Amen!: Those words were: PRICELESS!

LIGHTS DOWN!

ON OVERHEAD: HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY! “Honor Your Mother and Father....” Matthew 19:19

THE END!

Bible Study

How can you best honor your mother this month?

How can you best honor your wife this month?

How can you best honor other mothers this month?