Nancy Edison

First Lesson: Acts 9: 36-43
Responsive Reading: Psalm 23
Second Lesson: Revelation 7: 9-17
​Gospel Lesson: John 10: 22-30

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Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“No man is poor who has had a godly mother[1].”-Abraham Lincoln

I want to begin by telling you the tale this morning of one of the most remarkable Christian women who has ever lived.  Even if you haven’t heard of her, you have experienced her impact.

Ann Reeves Jarvis was born in Virginia in 1832.  She was the daughter of a Methodist minister[2].

In the 1850's, Jarvis began having children of her own.  Jarvis had only four of her dozen children survive to adulthood.  The majority died of diseases like measles, typhoid fever, and diphtheria which were prevalent within the poor, Appalachian communities in which she lived[3].

In 1858, Jarvis had an idea to organize what was known as “Mother’s Work Day[4].”  The goal was to reach out to the poor people of Appalachia by collecting and distributing medicine,  providing nursing care, feeding the hungry, and providing shelters for children with tuberculosis[5].  Jarvis’ idea was so popular that it quickly spread[6]. 

“Mother’s Work Day” though soon ran into a significant obstacle when the Civil War broke out.  The divide was an extraordinarily complicated issue in Virginia as the Western part of the state where Jarvis lived broke away out of loyalty to the Union cause.  This new border in what was now known as “West Virginia” pitted neighbor against neighbor and even family member versus family member. 

Mrs. Jarvis would not be deterred; she organized a meeting of the “Mother’s Work Day” clubs to vow to continue their work together whether their home was part of the Union or Confederacy.  They proceeded to take the unheard-of action of seeking to nurse soldiers from both sides.  The “Mother’s Work Day” Society would not abandon their mission even as the Civil War went on around them[7]. 

The end of the war brought all sorts of animosity and hatred among neighbors.  So Mrs. Jarvis then organized what was known as “Mother’s Friendship Days” to seek to reconcile former enemies[8].

One of Ann Reeves Jarvis daughters, Anna Jarvis perpetually admired her mother’s love and compassion.
 

So in the wake of Ann Reeves Jarvis’ death in 1905, her daughter organized what was known as “Mother’s Day” in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia.  The day soon became a tradition to honor the work of women like Ann Reeves Jarvis whose kindness in changing and challenging times bettered the lives of the weak and wounded around them[9].   

The idea of “Mother’s Day” quickly spread.  In 1914, nine years after Ann Reeves Jarvis’ death, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday[10].

Ann Reeves Jarvis died illustrating the very best of a mother’s love towards a child, a reflection of the love that Christ pours out on his church, and because of women like her, Mother’s Day exists.

Today’s First Lesson comes from the Book of Acts the 9th Chapter[11].  It tells the tale of another remarkable woman of faith named Dorcas. 

Dorcas was in many ways like Ann Reeves Jarvis; she was always doing good and helping the poor.  Whereas we celebrate Mother’s Day, we also remember the work of our Mission Circle as their quilts decorate our pews.  Dorcas did something similar; she made robes and clothes for the disadvantaged to wear as a focal point of her ministry[12].

Tragedy strikes Dorcas as she gets sick and dies.  All the other widows of Joppa were devastated by her loss. Some were recipients of her charity, whereas others worked alongside her.  What we can say for sure about Dorcas is she was a leader among one of the first Christian communities. 

Everyone was wondering what was going to happen now that Dorcas was dead[13].  Widows in the early church wouldn’t inherit property, there was no such thing as Social Security, so widows in her day would only survive because of the charity of people like Dorcas.

So then the widows of Joppa hear that Jesus’ disciple Peter is visiting a nearby town.  They send two men to get Peter hoping that  the “unbelievable promises” of Resurrection  in which they’ve heard might apply to Dorcas.[14]  Peter arrives, he prays, Dorcas rises from her sleep, and resumes her great deeds among the widows of Joppa.  Because of Dorcas, it says many people in Joppa, became believers in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ[15].  Dorcas might have been appearing to only be sewing clothes, but it soon became evident that God’s work through Dorcas went way beyond this.

For example, the story of Martin Luther, the 95 Theses, and the Lutheran Reformation is well-known.

What isn’t as well known is the impact that Mothers had on the Reformation[16].  When word of the 95 Theses got out, women began flocking to the new-found church.

These were woman who longed for grace in their life: they may have had to bury unbaptized children, had difficult teenagers who they couldn’t make sense of from one moment to the next, and widows like Dorcas for who every day was a challenge[17].

It was these women who were the backbone of the Reformation as teachers, charity workers, wives, and mothers[18].  The most famous of these women was Katherine Von Bora a runaway nun, who desired different responsibilities as a Christian woman than living in a convent.

The women who upon being married became known as Katie Luther would  tend to the fields, raised cattle, managed the family finances as Martin was known for being quite poor with money, and brewed her beer.  She was Martin’s closest source of support, as he struggled with frequent bouts of depression.

Towards the end of his life, Martin said about Katie: “The greatest gift of grace a man can have is a pious, God-fearing, home-loving wife, whom he can trust with all his goods, body, and life itself, as well as having her as the mother of his children.”

While there wasn’t Mother’s Day during Luther’s life, he certainly would have supported its celebration.  Luther understood the influence of mothers to the church.  Luther understood that without mothers there are fewer children raised in the faith, fewer pastors, and missionaries to spread the Gospel through the ends of the earth.

How this happens isn’t always obvious.  Mother’s Day is a bittersweet holiday for many of us.  Some dreamed of being a mother but weren’t for one reason or another, some had a complicated or broken relationship with their mother, whereas others have lost their mother in a relationship that can never be replaced.
2 Timothy is a letter by the Apostle Paul to his co-worker in the Gospel Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy how his faith came from his mother and his grandmother’s role in his life[19]. 

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”-2 Timothy 1:5. 

Well, recently as many of you know I lost my grandmother.  It will be the first Mother’s Day that I’ll celebrate without her.  While her loss is not unexpected, it does represent the end to a significant chapter of my life. 

What I can say is when I was growing up, or in college, she would always call me on the phone when a preacher was on T.V., sometimes it’d be Billy Graham, other times it would be some random motivational speaker with no religious content.  Grandma would think they looked like a preacher so that she would be just as excited.

She would always speak glowingly about preachers, she would embarrass me with her normal colorful behavior one minute, then preach a sermon at me five minutes later.

I remember one time when I was working here at Sychar; she got particularly mad at me before declaring; “I hope I see you in heaven.”  She could leave me speechless at times because of her bluntness like no one else I’ve ever met.   

What I can say for sure though is when I was in Confirmation, I would always stop by her house while waiting for class to begin.  She was never going to let me miss class, in spite of any arguments that I might make.  When I struggled going through Seminary with whether I wanted a career in the ministry, I knew if I ever broke the news to Grandma that I would never hear the end of it.  Her presence reminds me that it is those closest to you who not only influence your faith but the course of your whole life.

Even if actions might seem to be insignificant at the moments, they are taking place.  These are the things that we celebrate Today in women such as Dorcas with children or without.  

Let me close this morning with the following story to illustrate this.  Ida Tarbell was a journalist in the early 20th century.  Her most well-known work  is The History of the Standard Oil Company[20]. This book was so influential that it became the subject of the national debate over regulating monopolies.  Her articles drove circulation for McClure’s and American magazine. She was considered brilliant for her ability to take complex topics and explain them to a broader general audience[21].  Tarbell was having her 80th Birthday; someone asked Tarbell to describe the greatest person she had ever met, over her long and distinguished career. 

Tarbell replied: “The greatest person are those I have ever met are those nobody knows anything about[22].”

Tarbell then made her point clear: “I ask you, who was greater, Thomas A. Edison or his mother?”

The question might seem silly upon first listen.  Thomas Edison invented the phonograph which gave birth to the record player, the motion picture camera which made Hollywood movies possible, and the light bulb whereas no one has given much thought to Nancy Edison over the years but consider the following[23].

When Thomas Edison was a young child, his teacher sent home a note declaring  “Your child is dumb.  We can’t do anything for him.”.  Nancy Edison was outraged, she wrote the teacher back the following; “You do not understand my boy.  I will teach him myself[24].”  Thomas Edison never went back to school.  Now let me ask you again, “Who was more important Thomas Edison or his mother, Nancy?”

Nancy Edison reminds us that there is no higher Christian calling than being one’s mother. Her story mirrors many others.  You might not have heard of Ann Reeves Jarvis or Dorcas before today, but this is o.k.  Many of the most important woman in the world the ones that help raise children, nourish them in the faith, and support children in all circumstances have never been heard about outside their own home.  Happy Mother’s Day!  Amen


[1] Lincoln, Abraham. “Mother.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. May.1.2019. 
[2] “Ann Jarvis.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 3.Nov.2018. Web. May.1.2019.
[3] Ann Jarvis.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[4] Ann Jarvis.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[5] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations. 11. May.2015. Web. May.1.2019.
[6] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations.
[7] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations.
[8] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations
[9] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations.
[10] Stier, Leon. “The Story of Mother’s Day.” Email Mediatations.
[11] Acts 9:36-43.
[12] Acts 9:39. 
[13] Bratt, Doug. “Acts 9:36-43.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 11.Apr.2016. Web. May.1.2019. 
[14] Acts 9:39.
[15] Acts 9:42.
[16] Stjerna, Kirsi. “Luther and the ‘church mothers’ : They jump-started justice for women.” Living Lutheran. 22. Sept.2015. Web. May.1.2019.
[17] Stjerna, Kirsi. “Luther and the ‘church mothers’ : They jump-started justice for women.” Living Lutheran.
[18] Stjerna, Kirsi. “Luther and the ‘church mothers’ : They jump-started justice for women.” Living Lutheran.
[19] 2 Timothy 1:5.
[20] “Ida Tarbell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 25.Apr.2019. Web. May.1.2019.
[21] Ida Tarbell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[22] Jones, Iijon. “Mother.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. May.1.2019. Taken from January 8th, 1994 edition of Morning Glory.
[23] “Thomas Edison.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 30.Apr.2019. Web. May.1.2019. 
[24] Jones, Iijon. “Mother.” Sermon Illustrations.