A Woman set apart – Sunday, May 09, 1954
For the blessed privilege of having had such a mother as would add grace and kindliness to a company even of angels—for such a hallowed privilege, our hearts are humbled this day. And as we turn our thoughts to memories and to mothers—to you who have them with you yet, may we say from us who have had them taken from us be to them, this day—and always, what you would wish you had been to them if they were no longer here. Let there be no loneliness among mothers this day, or on any other, for any thoughtlessness of ours.
And now, for a moment may we turn our attention to another side of the subject: In one account of the courtship of Elizabeth Barrett Browning she replied to the importuning young poet that she should not marry because of her physical frailty, that if she should, as she poignantly put it, she would be “haunted by the ghosts of [his] unborn children.”1 This thought has some searching meanings for this day.
There are many avenues of activity open to this generation of young women. Indeed, there seem to be few that are closed to them. But in contemplating all of the open avenues, God grant that none who have given themselves in marriage and who are able, may be so shortsighted as to close their eyes to the career of hallowed motherhood. There are less burdensome pursuits.
There are avenues of more monetary remuneration, of more independence, more freedom, more convenience, of more glamour, perhaps, of a certain kind. But where is there one so richly rewarding, so fully satisfying, so assuredly consistent with the meaning and purpose of life, so close in companionship with God, so devoutly to be wished for, so earnestly to be prayed for, so completely to be accepted, as the career of virtuous, faithful motherhood in honorable marriage?
And this we would say to young mothers who find the days heavy, the evenings weary, the chores multiplied, the problems perplexing—but the rewards so wonderfully rich—this we would say to them, in some choice quoted sentences from the pages of the poets: “There will be a singing in your heart; there will be a rapture in your eyes; you will be a woman set apart; you will be so wonderful and wise.”2 And “Thou, while thy babes around thee cling, shalt show us how divine a thing a woman may be made.”3 God bless the mothers of men—and thank God for the memories of hallowed mothers.
1Rudolf Besier, The Barratt of Wimpole Street.
2Robert W. Service, The Mother.
3Wordsworth, To A Young Lady.
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May 09, 1954
Broadcast Number 1,290