Hannah's Gift

1 Samuel 1-2

Have you ever wanted something so bad you were willing to make a deal

in order to get it? That deal that would cost you something of great value, but for what you felt you were to gain was worth it?

In I Samuel chapter 1 we read the gut wrenching story of a woman

named Hannah who also made a deal. Hannah’s story is so amazing on so

many different levels, and yet serves as a great reminder and example to us as mothers. Starting in verse ten we read “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 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 will 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.’

God heard Hannah’s request that day and gave her a son – a son that she

named Samuel. From the day Samuel was born I’m sure Hannah completely

devoted herself to being a great and loving mother. I’m sure each day as she

cared for Samuel she realized what a gift he was and felt completely blessed. I

imagine however, some days had to have been bittersweet knowing what

would eventually have to take place. Each day Hannah surely was reminded of

the vow she made to her God. Reminded daily inside that there would come

that day when Samuel was weaned that he was to be given to the Lord's work

– and he was. Hannah in complete obedience, faith and love not only for her

child, but for the God she served took Samuel to Eli the priest and gave him

to the Lord's work. From that day forward Samuel lived in the temple with

Eli the priest and served the Lord.

Imagine what that day must have been like for Hannah. The day she got

him ready and made the trip to the temple knowing full well that was the day

she was to let him go- let him go to do God’s work. Imagine what she might

have been saying to him along the way. Imagine how her heart must have

been breaking with each step they took, and yet she chose to be obedient not

only to her vow but also to her God. Picture also the moment when Hannah

had to turn around and go home – go home childless. Hannah had wanted a

child for so long, suffered greatly for it and here she was again with no child

in her arms. Again, she chose to be obedient to her vow before God and went

home despite her broken heart.

This story, although heartbreaking, does have a wonderful ending. God

blessed Hannah by giving her five more children- three sons, two daughters,

and she was able to see her son Samuel each year when she went to the

temple. Not that those five other children could ever replace Samuel but you

can see how God did not allow her to remain childless - again, He blessed

her.

The words of Hannah that day as she took her only son to the temple

were, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I

asked of him. So, I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he

is dedicated to the Lord.” These words I believe speak volumes of the love,

obedience, and courage Hannah had for her God and for that she is to be

respected and admired. To make a vow like that and follow through with it

must have been the most difficult thing to do, yet she did it. Because of her

obedience, God though was faithful to her and was with Samuel who grew up

to be a great man of God. As Samuel grew, he was also able to know his

mother and of her great love for him. God also showed His love in that He

didn’t keep the two apart.

Now for us mothers or mothers-to-be, God may not be asking us to be

like Hannah and do what she did, but He is asking that we in our hearts

dedicate our children to the Lord and His will for their lives. To realize that

our children are a gift from God and God not only loves them, but also has a

plan and purpose for them. Our role as Christian mothers is to pray for our

children, to teach them the ways of God and to steer them in the direction of

the One who created them. To not force our own plans and purposes upon

them, but to give them back to the Lord and let Him decide what is best for

them. For when we as Christian mothers offer our children back to God for

His work, that is when we see the fruit of our labor. That is when we see the

glory of the Lord displayed through them for God’s purposes.

So today, first of all, start by thanking God for the gift of your children.

Thank God for the wonderful opportunity you have been given to be a

mother. Then ask God for the direction, wisdom and discernment needed to

raise them according to God’s standards. Then lastly offer your children back

to the Lord in your heart and dedicate them to the Lord’s purposes. Make the

vow that you will do all that you can to teach your children God’s ways and

most importantly that you will let God have His perfect way with them. By

doing this you will, even like in Hannah’s story, see how God will not only

bless you with more than you can ever imagine, but how others will be blessed

by your children as well. You see Hannah was willing to give up her gift so

that others could be blessed. She gave up her son, her only son at the time, so

he could be a gift for others!

From The Noble Woman Book, by Gina Burns.