Sunday is Mother’s Day and the Fourth Sunday of Easter. At Covenant, we honor not only birth and adopted Mothers, but also those serving in maternal roles. Acts 9 speaks of such a woman with this summary of her life in v.36. “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha …Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need.”
As I read this assigned Mother’s Day text; I thought of my Mom’s longest living sibling, Annie Tatum, who lived 100 plus years and also outlived her children. When her sister, Kate, died unexpectedly leaving 6 surviving children, one younger than 2 years old; Aunt Annie raised that child, Charlotte, as her own.
I was in attendance when one Mother’s Day, their church instead of the usual Mother’s Day honors, recognized “The Most Faithful Mother of the Church.” Aunt Annie didn’t realize they were talking about her until they mentioned that this Church Mother would not leave the kitchen after church dinners until every dish was washed.
With the death of her Mother, Grandma Lula Reid, July 1965, Aunt Annie became the unofficial matriarch of our family and in many ways, her community. Limited space doesn’t allow me to adequately describe her contributions to our family and community. So, I’ll paraphrase and use the words the writer of Acts 9 shared in writing about a woman named Tabitha. “In ‘Martinsville, VA’ there was a disciple named ‘Annie Tatum’ …Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need.”
The same can be said of our Covenant Church Mother, Mother Dorothy Swims. Keep her in prayer as she recovers from injuries received in a fall this week.
Join us this Mother’s Day for worship; and if possible, bring your Mom. My sermon is based Tabitha as I continue my Easter Series “Choosing Hope” with “Living the Resurrection and Eternal Life” based on Acts 9:34-42 and John 10:22-30.
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