It seemed that all the flowers were in bloom for Mother’s Day this year. Beautiful orchids were given to all the ladies in the women’s Sunday school class, and the Beginners Department distributed planted flowers as gifts for students to give away.

The morning service began with an organ solo of “O Perfect Love,” and then the choir sang “Far Above Riches,” which speaks of the value of a virtuous woman. The congregational singing included “A Christian Home” and “Amazing Love.” During the announcements, pastor Dave Lambert recognized the great-great-grandmothers and great-grandmothers in the audience, followed by grandmothers and mothers. After a round of applause, he let them know that there was a carnation for each of them in the narthex.

Before the Scripture reading, a three-generation family trio of Kaye Montgomery, Jennifer, Emmaline, and Genevieve Worthington, and Victoria Heintz sang “Through It All.” Then Darrel Lee read Matthew 15:21-28, the account of the woman of Canaan who pleaded with Jesus to heal her daughter. For the last special, Kristi Riler sang “Near to the Heart of God.”

Brother Dave opened the morning message with Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” and spoke about a mother’s influence. He spoke of how Moses’ and Samuel’s mothers only raised them for a few years, but that early training lasted a lifetime. He encouraged the congregation to be appreciative of the women who do so much to help younger generations, and reminded the moms that their efforts are not in vain.