No one has more influence than a mother!

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day, and I was thinking of how much influence a mother really has. There is something special about mothers. I personally think that no one has more influence than a mother.

Susan Yates, in a Focus On The Family Bulletin on February, 1994 said this:

“Satisfaction comes from having a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others. Nobody on earth even comes close to a mother for having the potential for that kind of influence.” In other words, no one has more influence than a mother.

Associated Press’ religion writer, George Cornell, in a survey on religion in America, asked people what or who had the most positive influence on their religious faith, and from every age group the most frequent response was: Mother. Again, no one has more influence than a mother.

A London editor submitted a list of people to Winston Churchill who had been Churchill’s teachers. Churchill returned the list with this comment: “You have omitted the greatest of my teachers - my mother”. The greatest influence on Churchill came from his mother.

It has been said that “Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the rough hand of the world cannot erase”. What a powerful lasting influence a mother can have on her children.

I read years ago where a chaplain came to see a young man who had been wounded in one of the battles of the Civil War. The young man did not have much time to live so the chaplain took him by the hand and asked, “Brother, what can I do for you?”

The young man replied, “I want you to kneel down and tell the Lord thanks for me.” It was such an unusual request from a dying man.

The chaplain asked, “What specifically is it you want me to thank the Lord for you.”

“Would you thank Him for my mother? Would you thank Him that because of her I am a Christian? At this time in my life that means more to me than ever. Thank the Lord that she showed me Christ.”

No one has more influence than a mother. Mothers, use your influence to see your children follow Jesus.

I have this stored away in my files It is called, “When Mama Prays”.

”U.S. soldiers had just captured a strategic area from the enemy and were determined to raise the U.S. flag atop the highest point. The Sergeant sent one man to do the job only to see him shot down by snipers. He sent the second and the third, all with the same results. Then he said, “Men, I need a volunteer. I don’t have the heart to command anyone else to go as we have already lost three men to enemy fire”.

One young man stood up and said, “Hey Serge, I’ll put that grand old flag high in the air wherever you want it raised, but I’ll have to wait till 4 pm.” The Sgt., somewhat curious as to why it had to be 4 pm, agreed to wait till that time. At exactly 4 pm the soldier was there, took the flag and staff in his hand, and started for the hilltop. Snipers began firing at him from enemy lines, shells whizzed through the air, but none ever came near the soldier, and he came off the hill leaving Old Glory flying high in the air.

Surprised, the Sgt .said. “Soldier, how did you do it, and why did you have to wait till 4 pm?”

“Well Serge”, said the soldier, “You see, when I went to the army my mother said, ‘Son, I’ll pray for you every chance I get, but rest assured of one thing, regardless of what I am doing, I’ll stop it at 4 pm every day and pray for you. That is a promise you can fully depend on. And Serge, heaven sure does listen when my mama prays.”

This Mother’s Day, I want to be an encouragement to all mothers. You have a mighty influence. Thank the Lord for that influence, and use it to help your children follow the Lord with all of their hearts. You have a great calling as a mother. Remember, “No one has more influence than a mother”.