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Mother Appreciation Week - Day 3

"But he did not answer her a word.  And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...and he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." - Matthew 15: 23-24, 26

Mark #3 - Great mothers are armed with great determination.

She conquered the test of patience in silence.  When the mother cried out to Jesus for help, he did not respond at all, basically ignoring her.  We know through more accounts that Jesus was not being rude to this mother, but that he was testing her faith.  How do we respond to silence?  Do we assume that means no and give up when God doesn't answer our prayers on the first try, or within a week?  She didn't let that stop her, she continued to pursue Jesus and the disciples for help for her daughter.

We see in the second part of that verse that she conquered the test of doubt and discouragement.  The disciple had gotten so annoyed with her requests, that they even asked Jesus to "send her away."  Can you imagine that feeling?  Have you ever been there?  Wanting to be a part of something or wanting someone to help only to be turned away.  When we are faced with that, we cannot allow that seed of doubt planted by others to grow into a feeling of unworthiness. 

She conquered the test of rejection.  In v24, Jesus responds to the mother saying, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  At least now he was acknowledging her but he was still rejecting her request.  But Jesus' answer was actually much bigger than just the healing of her daughter.  He was teaching her and his disciples that his current duty and focus of ministry was for the people of Israel, it wasn't time yet for him to reach out to the Gentiles.  He was not saying that he would not reach them, just that the time was not now.  If he improperly shifted his focus, it would be like in v26 where the children's food is taken off the table and fed to the pets.  A parent will take care of their children first, then others. 

But this mother, like many in our day, was not going to quit even as she faced silence and rejection.  She kept pushing and was determined to save her daughter.

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