I always seem to migrate to the story of Hannah when I think of special mothers. As our church grows with new, sweet babies, I reflect on my own experiences and memories as a mother and marvel at the courage Hannah had to make the commitment she made to God. "If you will give me a man child, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life [paraphrased]" (I Samuel 1:11).
Holding your own little one for the first time is an experience like no other. Your hopes and dreams for that child are coupled with you passionate love for him/her. You never thought it possible to love so deeply. I think we can easily say we dedicate our children to the Lord, but how do we get to the place of actually parting with them, as Hannah did, as they go off into the world? Some of us have experienced separating from our children as they have gone off to college or married and moved away. Others have that milestone ahead of them.
Never forget, moms, that you are not "just a mom" – but a lifeline between your child(ren) and God. You are their first teacher. They will know God as you teach them of Him, will be watching to see how you serve and love Him, and often will pattern their lives after what you model to them. The first prayers they hear may be yours. Being a mom IS a ministry, and may some of the first souls you win to the Lord be your own beautiful children.
It takes a lot of courage to give something precious away – but nothing is more rewarding than to give your children to the Lord at a very early age and then see them grow up, fall in love with Him, and choose to know and serve Him all the days of their lives.
