For All You Do (Mother's Day ‘26)

May 10

‍Good morning BCC and Happy Mother’s Day! What a blessing it is to celebrate all of the moms, grandmothers and mother-figures. I know that for many, this is a day of overwhelming emotion for several reasons. Some of you ladies are living the dream of raising or having raised your own kids, while others of you are grappling with the realities of a fractured relationship with your children or your own mother. Still others of you have faced the sobering conditions of infertility or the constant pain of having lost your child in this world.‍ ‍

I just want to say again, God sees you. Each and every one of you. He sees you. He suffers with you. He rejoices with you. And He is there in your midst to comfort and equip you for the road ahead.‍ ‍

Before we get into the message, I would like to pray for you and give thanks to God For All You Do.‍ ‍

Esau’s mom story‍ ‍

Dr. Esau McCaulley, Anglican priest, New Testament scholar, and author, shares the triumphant story of his family’s struggle to break the cycle that so often befalls homes where mom is the sole caregiver.‍ ‍

In his book, Reading While Black, he shares his journey of forgiving his father. In How Far to the Promised Land, he shifts his focus toward his mother who was the one constant in his life. With his dad’s infrequent presence, Esau’s mom shouldered the burden of financial support as well as making sure that none of her kids became statistics. Speaking about a chapter revision, Esau recalls,‍ ‍

The center of the story is not the fact that the men left. It’s that the women stayed! And it was their courage that had an effect. It was their faithfulness. They either could have abandoned their children or fought for us.[1]

In the book, he talks about the myriad of ways his mother cared for the family, often sacrificing her own needs for the sake of her children.‍ ‍

He shares in an interview with Faith & Leaders, ‍ ‍

“When it came time to dedicate this book, I felt like I needed to dedicate it to my mother... What it meant in this book is that I am who I am because of who she was.”[2]‍ ‍

Any number of us here today can admit that about our own lives as well. We are who we are because of mom and the mother-figures in our lives and all that they have done on our behalf.‍ ‍

I want to highlight how mothers profoundly shape their children's futures. This influence extends beyond biological mothers to include the many women without children of their own who serve as vital role models for the young people in their lives.‍ ‍

Whether you are a mother, grandmother, or a mother-figure, you fulfill three critical roles for the children under your care. To truly maximize your impact, it is helpful to look toward God as the ultimate example of a perfect parent and understand the role He plays in your own life.‍ ‍

Springboard

‍Moms, one of the most important roles you will ever play in the life of your child or the children who look up to you, is the role of a springboard.

You’re probably wondering, “Tre, what does a springboard have to do with being a mother?” Let me explain.

Springboards, in very basic terms, have two main functions.

They bend and they propel.

Bending

In bending, a springboard is loaded with weight on one end causing the board to bend until it reaches a point at which that weight can be released. Comparatively, a mother absorbs the weight of her child, or the weight the world places on the child, often by making sacrifices on the child’s behalf. Beginning with the sacrifice of her own body for the child’s development, during and after birth. Sacrifice comes in the form of interrupted sleep or worry. The weight that a child places on the mom may come in the form of prolonged stress, fear, lack of confidence, lack of resources, a sense of powerlessness, or any number of other reasons, but a mother will bend over backwards to care for her child and, in many cases, children in general. This is actually a trait that finds its origins in God Himself.

Through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, Yahweh compares Himself to a mother.

Isaiah 66:13 NKJV

13 As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you...

Again, the prophet Isaiah says,

Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Does this description not evoke the image of a mother? To bear grief and carry sorrow, to be wounded, bruised, and chastised—these are experiences many mothers know intimately as they devote themselves to the protection and growth of their children.

This serves as a profound illustration of God’s love for us.

By taking human form, Jesus chose to bend Himself to our condition (Jn. 1:14).

He absorbed the weight of sin by becoming sin for us as He hung on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; Mk. 15:21ff).

He says,

Matthew 11:28–29 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In these words, we find a powerful source of solace and fortitude. The call to seek rest, coupled with the imagery of a gentle and humble spirit, beautifully reflects the essence of motherhood. Moms, it is important to recognize that your constant readiness to yield and sacrifice for your children is among the most significant legacies you will leave behind.

Launching

But understand this as well, not only should you bend, you should also launch. There is a point at which the springboard can take on too much weight and the board breaks. Moms, you were not built to do it all.

After fighting for 330 days to save her only son who had been taken hostage by Hamas, Rachel Goldberg-Polin came to this heartbreaking realization,

And this is true of every one of us who live on the face of this planet.

Sometimes a 100% just isn’t enough.[3]

We are limited in what we are able to do in this life and for that very reason, we must rely on God.

A mother who only absorbs her child's burdens risks becoming an enabler rather than a guide.

In his correspondence with the Romans, the Apostle Paul addressed this dynamic through a fundamental question.

Romans 6:1 NKJV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Jesus did not take on the weight of our transgressions simply so we could remain stagnant in our old ways.

Just as a springboard reaches a necessary deflection point to propel someone upward, moms must find that point where they launch their children forward into their own lives.

This reminds me of those early years of the Church.

After Jesus rose from the grave, He launched the twelve, sending them out with the power of God for the salvation of the world.

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Christ gave Himself for those twelve disciples, not just to grant them liberty, but to prepare them for the journey that lay ahead.

Deciding when to release or determining if you have carried a burden long enough can be challenging. Because of this, staying connected with other Spirit-filled women who walk with God and offer trustworthy encouragement is essential.

If you don’t have a group like that, I’d like to invite you to the Mom’s Bible Study which takes place every Tuesday morning at 10am.

Mother, you serve as both a springboard—absorbing your child's weight to propel them forward—and a reliable sanctuary where they can always find rest.

Sanctuary

Another key role that moms play in the lives of their children and the children who look up to them is the role of a sanctuary.

This sacred space provides the safety necessary for children to build courage, find their identity, and discover God's purpose for their lives.

The importance of this role is mirrored in research regarding secure attachments. These reliable, bond-building relationships offer children a consistent sense of connectedness, teaching them they always have a secure home to return to, which ultimately empowers them to venture out into the world with confidence.

As sanctuaries, these environments ensure our children feel truly protected.

By serving as sanctuaries, mothers reflect a divine characteristic of God.

In the pages of Proverbs we are told that,

Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Have you ever seen a kid get hurt on the playground? Overwhelmingly, the first person that child looks for is mom. Equally, the first person to respond when a child gets hurt is mom. Just this past week, as I was walking up to the door of a restaurant, a young boy who was following behind his mother, hit his head on the handle of the door, before I could react the boy’s mom and my wife, a mother of three, jumped into action to check on the kid. Thankfully he was ok.

During the time that the words of Proverbs 18:10 were penned, strong towers were fortified structures often built in the center of the village or city where the people could take shelter from the attack of their enemies.

This was an attribute King David regularly ascribed to God. Let me give you a few examples.

2 Samuel 22:2–3 NKJV

2 And he said: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.

Psalm 61:3 NKJV

3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 91:1–2 NKJV

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 144:2 NKJV

2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.

Beyond their role as protectors, mothers also serve as vital providers for their families.

Within these sanctuaries, our children encounter consistent provision.

This dual nature is reflected in Prov. 18:10; when the scripture describes God as a strong tower, it encompasses both a refuge for safety and a source of necessary sustenance.

Sometimes these towers were built right into the outer wall of the city and they were stockpiled with food and water that would last for days.

The reason why my kids prefer for mom to pick them up from school is because she always has snacks in the car.

Moms not only provide such things as are necessary for physical growth, they also provide for a child’s mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. God has wired them in this way, giving us a glimpse of His very nature through mothers.

Proverbs 14:26 NKJV

26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.

The psalmist reminds us of the confidence we can have in God to be faithful in our lives by stating,

Psalm 27:10 NKJV

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

Through the prophet Isaiah, Yahweh affirms His faithful love for His children by saying this,

Isaiah 49:15 NKJV

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.

And finally, speaking to Gentile couples where one had surrendered their lives to Christ while living in a pagan society, the Apostle Paul says this,

1 Corinthians 7:14 NKJV

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Mom, as a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ you are providing spiritual sanctuary for your children and the children who look up to you. This doesn’t mean that they are saved because you are saved. They will each have to pass through the fires of conversion like everyone of us, and whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life.

However, as Chuck Swindoll puts it, children are “placed in a unique relationship of blessing” through the Christian parent, because they have a greater opportunity to see the love of Christ exhibited through that parent.[4]

Mom, your child will learn to trust in God for their own salvation as you set the example for them in the way you exercise your own faith in Christ.

This brings us to our third and final role that moms play in the lives of their children.

Salvation

Not only do moms serve as springboards, absorbing the weight of their children and launching them out into the future, behaving as sanctuaries providing a place of safety and security, but you are also to be a model of salvation.

Mom, the greatest gift you will ever give your child is to teach them to know and love the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

The word which the NKJV translates as train up, and the NIV translates as start is a word which means to dedicate/consecrate to [God] for a special purpose. As a matter-of-fact, we are going to have a child dedication next week as one couple will come forward to dedicate their child to God and to ask for the prayers and support of this church to assist them in training their child to know and love Jesus.

This example comes to us from the story of Hannah and her son Samuel.

Studies have shown that nearly 18% of women worldwide suffer from infertility. That’s about 1 out of every 6 women.[5]In the United States alone, nearly 14% of females aged 15-49 have fertility problems.[6]

Hannah, like many women today, dealt with the devastating conditions of infertility. For years she prayed and asked the Lord for a child, but she never got pregnant.

And then one day, her hormones started to change. Certain smells made her feel nauseous. Her clothes didn’t fit as comfortably as they used to and she could feel the baby move. In response Hannah made a commitment.

1 Samuel 1:21-28 NKJV

21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”
23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.

Hannah exemplifies the role of a springboard; she sacrificed and bent herself for Samuel's sake to launch him into his calling. By protecting and providing for him, she demonstrated that putting God first is the ultimate priority.

My own mother lived out this same devotion for me. As a single mother, she was tireless in her efforts to discipline me, ensuring my sisters and I were deeply rooted in the church through Sunday school, VBS, and the choir. I even had the opportunity to serve as an usher and junior deacon because of her guidance. Beyond church, she filled our lives with character-building activities after school and during the summers, doing everything possible to set me on the right path.

And by the grace of God, although I had turned away in my youth, I have not departed in my old age.

Timothy was a young guy who found himself caught in between two worlds. His father was a Gentile and his mother was a Jew. Furthermore, it is not known if his dad was a “believing spouse,” but we do know that Timothy’s mother and grandmother both believed. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he commends these women for the spiritual impact they had on his young protege.

2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Timothy’s mom and grandma, both influenced his decision to follow Jesus by modeling faith before him.

Ladies, as you live out your own faith in Jesus, you are modeling salvation for those who do not yet know Christ as Savior and no matter what else you may contribute to their development, nothing will have as great of an impact as that will.

Respond

I invite you now to cast the entire burden of your sin upon Jesus, allowing Him to propel you toward a life of abundance. This moment represents a significant exchange where you can release the weight of past regrets and failures.

Through faith in His sacrifice, the heavy load you have endured is exchanged for His grace. In Him, you find a sacred sanctuary that offers a clean slate and a restored sense of divine purpose.

This shift is about more than just moving away from yesterday; it is about embracing a future filled with His incomparable peace and wholeness. Accept this call to live in the liberty of a heart renewed and strengthened by His perfect love.

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