A mother, there has been a lot of eloquent words written by some of the greatest poets and writers who ever lived trying to capture the essence of motherhood.  I submit that all have fallen short by a long way of adequately and totally conveying mothers. I think one of the greatest ways to attempt to look at this is by an example of a mother that by her love, devotion and sacrifice shows us the heart of a mother.

I- Barrenness:

        1 Samuel 1:1-3  Now there was a certain man…and his name was Elkanah…2  And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.  3  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh…4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:  5  But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.  6  And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. I am aware that many women mother children not theirs with a motherly love. Hannah had the heart of a mother but she did not have children.

II- Prayer for a Child:

        1 Samuel 1:9  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

        This mother knew that it was God who gave the gift of a child. The psalmist said in Psalms 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

III- The Vow:

        1  Samuel 1:11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Hannah tells God if he gave her a child she would honor God with him.

IV- Mistaken Anguish:

        1  Samuel 1:12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.  13  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

        Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. When Eli accuses her, notice her response. 1  Samuel 1:16  Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 

        1 Samuel 1:17 NASB  Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." Hannah departs with a lift in her step and a joy in her heart.

V- The Son:

        Not many days pass before this woman is with child. God blesses and she has the son she prayed for. 1  Samuel 1:20  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.         Samuel means heard of God or asks of God. Soon will come the time when Hannah had a decision to make.

VI- The Vow Fulfilled:

        Did she love the child? Certainly but I submit that she loved God more. This should not be seen a slighting the child of love but I submit that a mother who loves God loves her children better than someone who does not love God at all.

        1 Samuel 1:24-28  And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.  25  And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.  26  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.  27  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:  28  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

         She took the child to the house of God to live. She did not make the decision when he was old enough but made it at the altar.

VII- The Lord’s Blessings:

        Now the rest of the story about Hannah and Samuel. 1 Samuel 2:18-21  But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.  19  Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 

        Hannah saw her son from time to time . But this once barren woman was blessed by God with five other children.

        1  Samuel 1:20  And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.  21  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

        Samuel was to become a great man of God.

VIII- Lessons for us from this Godly mother:

1- To be very careful the way we treat women who are not able to have children. This does not mean God does not love them.

2- To be reminded again that children are a gift from God.

3- To release the children God has given us, back to Him. To love God more even than our children.

4- Because children are not living near does not mean they are not in their mother’s heart.

5- To celebrate mothers that love God and their children.