By Rev. Daniel Yaw 

Introduction
As we approach the month of May, many are looking at a special day, or a cause for celebration.  That day is the second Sunday of the month.  That day is a day many in the world is celebrating Mother’s Day.

As I think of that day, I also thought of what I preached on Sunday, mentioning the person of the Holy Spirit.  Interestingly, the word “paraclete” has also been translated to be “helper” in some English version.  I also made an allusion that when Eve was to be created, God said that He would make Adam a “helper”.  I drew three implications of the word for the Holy Spirit.

So as we celebrate mother’s day, it is not just celebrating or honoring our mothers alone, but to all the women in our church and in the world.

So sisters, all sisters, I wish you God’s great blessings on all of you this day – to honor and to appreciate all that you have done to families, friends and community.

Helper
Yes, helper is the first word that came to my mind.  They have in many ways took on this quiet role for most of their part, nevertheless a helper in every way.  The family will not do well without her.  The church will not function well without them.  The community is served well because of them.

Even the domestic help we received today in many homes are called “pembantu”, meaning helpers.  Well said as Eve was called to be a helper to Adam in fulfilling the cultural mandate of God – in building a community that would honor God.

May we learn from them this attitude to “quietly” help one another, without any thought of projecting oneself or trying to outshine one another.  The mindset is that “the work has to be done” or “someone must do it” and it takes a helper to do that.

Companion / Comforter
Yes, every family has a wife and she is a companion and comforter in many ways.  Every manager seems to have a secretary and needless to say, most of them are women.  We have this saying, that behind every successful man is a woman.  In many ways, this saying is true.

I thought of Jesus when sending the disciples and later the seventy out to proclaim the kingdom of God, he sent them out two by two.  We are all familiar with this principle, besides helping one another, is the sense of companionship and strength.

Faithfulness is the virtue for all companionship.  Again, we see that in the women in our lives – more often than not, they are the faithful ones who would stand through thick and thin.

As we honor them, we must also learn to be like them.  In the journey of the Christian life, companionship is so important as a source of strength.  In the new testament, there are countless times the phrase “one another” occurred.  It goes to show that being a companion and a comforter is the very calling of a Christian in the community of God.

Have I been an encouraging companion?  Do I also see the need to be my brother’s or my sister’s keeper.

In Hebrews 10:24, “ 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”.  The factor of the “one-another-ness” is so vital today in the church of God.

Conclusion
I want to wish all the women in our church the blessings of God on this special day and of course, to all mothers, a very blessed mother’s day.  To the church of God, in honoring the women in our lives, may we also learn and live like them.