Mothers, are you praying fervently for your children and family?  Are you submitting them to God and leaving the results with him?  Children of mothers, are you doing the same thing with your Samuel, your dream or plan or temptation or problem?  If the rest of us were as surrendered to God as you are, would that be a good thing?

The shape of your child's soul is at stake, and all the history which will follow.

Of the 69 kings in France's history there have been only three who were truly loved and respected by their subjects--the only ones reared by loving mothers.

Sir Walter Scott's mother was a woman of education and a great lover of the arts.  So was he.

The mother of George Washington was known for her integrity of character, as was her son.

The mother of John Wesley was remarkable for her intelligence, piety, and abilities, so that she has been called the "mother of Methodism."  Through her son, she was.

John Newton's mother prayed for her wayward, sinful son every day.  Finally he came to Christ, and later wrote Amazing Grace, the most beloved hymn of all time.  We have it because of his mother.

If you have a godly mother, thank God.  If you are a mother, surrender your child to your Father.  If you are a mother's child, surrender your Samuel to your God.  Eternity will be grateful.

We close today, as we do each Mother's Day, with Peter Marshall's beautiful prayer.  Pray it with me:

"On this day of sacred memories, our Father, we would thank Thee for our mothers who gave us life, who surrounded us early and late with love and care, whose prayers on our behalf still cling around the Throne of Grace, a haunting perfume of love's petitions.

"Help us, their children, to be more worthy of their love.  We know that no sentimentality on this day, no material gifts can atone for our neglect during the rest of the year.  So in the days ahead, may our love speak to the hearts who know love best--by kindness, by compassion, by simple courtesy and daily thoughtfulness.

"Bless her whose name we whisper before Thee, and keep her in Thy perfect peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."