Text: Proverbs 31:10-31
Topic: What is involved in a mother's worth.

Introduction
• Illustration: The peacefulness of Whistler's Mother is deceptive.
• Our world has relegated women to inferior positions, with much struggle.
     - Illustration: The character O-lan in Buck's The Good Earth is noble but suffers.
• The liberated, well-educated, self-confident young woman of the twentieth century Western world is a late phenomenon.
• The Saga of Everywoman would be one of tears, brutality, and slavery.

The woman in Proverbs represents the ideal.
• Proverbs 31:10-31
• All too rarely does mother receive the recognition she deserves.
• She is a faithful and supportive wife to her husband
• She is a businesswoman.
• She is a teacher.
• Her interests take her into the community, where her influence is felt for good.
• The woman is the focus of the family, the strength of her household.
• She is greatly admired and beloved by all.

Jesus had the remarkable example of his mother, Mary.
• Jesus got his evident respect for women from his own mother.
• Miraculously, God chose this humble village maiden for such an awesome responsibility.
• Jesus must have hurt Mary when he left home, but her love followed him.
• Mary was there at Calvary, when his friends deserted him.
• Mary should be call blessed for giving Christians a good example of motherhood.

There is no substitute for a mother.
• Illustration: "God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers."
• A mother is not a substitute for God, but neither is there any substitute for a mother.
• No one can take a mother's place in the life of her family.
• "Time cannot wither nor custom stale" the veneration in which we hold our mothers.
• We salute mothers, for the world needs mothering.

Conclusion
• Colossians 3:12-14
• The feminine ideal of fulfilling oneself in service to others is a fine ideal for everyone.