"The young mother set her foot on the path of life. Is the way long, she asked? And her guide said yes and the way is hard and you will be old before you reach the end of it but the end will be better than the beginning. But the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed with them in the clear streams. And the sun shone on them and life was good and the young mother cried, `Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.' And then night came and storm and the path was dark and the children shook with fear and cold and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle and the children said, `O mother, we're not afraid for you are near and no harm can come.' And the mother said, `This is better than the brightness of day for I have taught my children courage.'
"And the morning came and there was a hill ahead and the children climbed and grew weary and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, `A little patience and we'll be there.' So the children climbed and when they reached the top they said, `We could have not done it without you, mother.' And the mother when she lay down that night looked up at the stars and said, `This is a better day than the last for my children have learned strength in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given them strength.'
"And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil. And the children groped and stumbled and the mother said, `Look up, lift your eyes to the light.' And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night mother talked of Jesus and said, `This is the best day of all for I have shown my children God.'
"And the days went on and the weeks and the months and the years. And the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But the children were tall and strong and walked with faith and courage. And when the way was rough they lifted her for she was as light as a feather. And at last they came to a hill and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said, `I have reached the end of my journey and now I know that the end is better than the beginning for my children can walk alone for they walk with God.' And the children said, `You will always walk with us, mother, even when you've gone through the gates to the Savior.' And they stood and watched her as she went on alone and the gates closed behind her. And they said, `We cannot see her but she is still with us, a mother like ours is more than a memory, she is a living presence.'"
Today I want to highlight a biblical character whom I feel we can learn a GREAT deal from. She was a woman that longed to be a mother. She wanted nothing more than to have a child of her own, to have a baby to hold, love and care for. I know that there are many woman out there who have shared in that same longing, but for whatever reason, the Lord has decided not to give in that way. However, there are others who take it so for granted and they decide to destroy what they view as a hindrance or an inconvenience. They are women who take something so beautiful and so precious, for granted.
The woman we will be looking at, is a woman I believe to be of high nobility. She is a woman that should be on our list of role models and influences. Her name is Hannah and her story begins in 1 Samuel 1
We meet Hannah at a time when her spirit and heart are grieved the most. Elkanah, her husband , had two wives Hannah and Penninah. Penninah had children but Hannah did not. When it was time to go to the temple and worship each year, Elkanah would give to Penninah a portion, but to Hannah he would give a double portion, "for he loved her" (vs.5) Because of this Penninah had become Hannah's rival. She would taunt and irritate her about the fact that the Lord had closed her womb not allowing her to be able to bear children (vs.6). When the time had come to go to the temple and worship, Hannah was virtually destroyed by the fact of not having bore children yet. As she poured her heart out to the Lord in anguish and despair, Eli the priest actually accused her of being drunk! Boy did he have some discernment!?!
Hannah made it clear that she was not drunk but overwhelmed with despair and sadness. Realizing what was really happening, Eli told her, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." (vs.17)
You see, during the time when Hannah was pouring her heart and soul out to the Lord, she had made a vow, that if the Lord allowed her to bear children, she would give that child back to the Lord at the time of his weening. (vs.10-11) After it was all said and done, the Lord granted her her request and she bore a son. A man to whom ultimately was used to save Israel.
Hannah's mothering didn't stop at his birth. Once the child was born she immediately started teaching him the things of God, all the way up until he was 3 yrs old. She dedicated everything she was to molding him to be a man of God. Then, she did just as she had vowed to the Lord she would. At 3 yrs old, she took him to the temple where Eli, the priest, was and gave him back to the Lord.
You know, I think about just that act alone and I am immediately humbled. I have a 3yr old and I think, "Wow, would I have the strength and courage to have done something like that?" It was obvious how much Hannah longed to have children and be a mother, however, she understood and knew who gives children, who takes them away and who keeps one from having them at all. I believe that the dedicating of the boy back to God was her ultimate way of saying, thank you. This child became a mighty man of God. He was born at a time when Israel had no king. They were essentially leaderless and Eli wasn't the best of priests either. His sons were so full of wickedness that he couldn't even control them. This boy wasn't the only child that the Lord gave to Hannah, she went on to have several more in her lifetime.
The years that he was at the temple growing and learning in the things of God, Hannah was still being his mother. Each year she would bring him a new coat that she had made, and I'm sure the two shared a hug.
Hannah was a woman of nobility, a woman that understood what her role was and knew that she had a job to do and in doing that job, God allowed her to have bore one of the greatest men that ever lived. She was a noble mother whom the Lord chose to birth yet another man of true courage, Samuel!
I challenge you today to think about Hannah. Think about what she did in fulfilling her promise of giving Samuel back to the Lord. Would you have the noble spirit of being able to do something like that? Would you have the courage to follow through on such a noble promise to God? Would you allow the Lord to use you in whatever capacity He saw fit to raise up a man of great courage?
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