A Story for Mothering Sunday

Hannah Prays For A Son (1 Samuel 1 & 2)

In the time before Kings in Israel there lived Elkanah - a proud man. He was proud of his family tree – he could trace it back to his great, great grandfather.

But Elkanah was particularly proud of his family– he had lots of children – perhaps as many as ten. He loved to hear them play outside in the yard; he watched them grow with amazement. And he looked forward to the time, when he was older and they would look after him. He knew that God had blessed him.
Elkanah was proud of his wives too – yes that’s right he had two wives. That was how it was in those days. And as we shall see – that is not the way to peace and happiness.

Elkanah had married Grace first. He loved Grace and he loved her name – Grace – God’s kindness (Hannah in the Hebrew language.) For Elkanah served God faithfully. He knew God had given him this wife, he didn’t deserve her– Grace indeed. He knew that God had blessed him.

And as I said – there is another wife. We will call her Pearl, for that is what her name means. It must be hard to always be second. Pearl often thought of herself as Number 2 wife. But there was one way that she came first – before Grace. Pearl had children – perhaps as many as 10, and Grace had, well… none. And that was Pearl’s chance to point out who was best. She lost no opportunity to show off her children.

‘Look at Simeon – see how he looks like his father.’
‘Whew, kids are hard work aren’t they? – O you wouldn’t know would you?!’
'What a great Mother and Daughter time we had shopping at the market – whoops!’

Mothering Sunday was not easy either.

Pearl knew that God had blessed her and reminded Grace every day she was childless. And Grace began to wonder about her name – God’s kindness – perhaps God had forgotten her, he certainly was not very kind. Everyday a little more hope died inside her.

The worst times were the pilgrimages to God’s House in Shiloh. It was not far – just 20 miles. But it was another extra-special chance for Pearl to be nasty. All the family would go –all the family – the adults and the , teenagers, children, toddlers and babies – all Pearl’s children, every year a new baby – and there would be a big meal for everyone after the sacrifice. Eating meat was a rare thing among these people – so this was always a special feast. But that wasn’t the really bad part for Grace– it was Elkanah – every year he did the same stupid thing.

He wanted all the family to be happy, he was proud of his family. And he loved Grace (perhaps he loved her more than Pearl – which was perhaps easy to do). And he knew that she was sad not having children of her own. And he wanted to cheer her up. So every year when he carved the joint for the family meal at the festival – he gave her the best cut – ‘to make it alright.’ Which it did not. Grace was so upset she could never eat anything at all. One year he even said ‘Don’t cry – I’m such a great husband – better than even 10 sons!’ What an idiot.

So this time after the meal – she could only watch the others eat and drink – she walked out. Her heart was breaking. What use was it being called Grace – if God was not kind? And so she slipped into the courtyard of God’s house.

And there she poured out all the sadness and hurt in a long, long prayer. She wept, and rocked backwards and forwards. She held nothing back. That is the kind of prayer that God loves to hear. It was good to get it all out –she said under her breath ‘LORD All-Powerful, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I will give him to you for as long as he lives.’ And she carried on and had a good long talk with the LORD.

Now she was not the only one out late that night. Sitting by the door was the old priest Eli (he had problems with his children – but that is another story.) Perhaps he was there praying, perhaps he was having a nap, but certainly he was on guard – with all the folk celebrating the festival sometimes things could get out of hand… So he sees a woman, talking silently, muttering, and weeping – and he recognises a drunken reveller. “How long are you going to stay drunk?” he asked. “Sober up!”

Sir, please don’t think I’m no good!” Grace answered. “I’m not drunk, and I haven’t been drinking. But I do feel miserable and terribly upset. I’ve been praying all this time, telling the LORD about my problems.”
And then Eli knew what he had to say: “You may go home now and stop worrying. I’m sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.” And do you know she believed him?

And the LORD did remember Grace – and she became pregnant. Before the next festival Elkanah had another brand new baby son and Grace was the proud mum. She called him ‘God listened’ or as we would say - Samuel. Pearl still had several buggy-fuls of kids but just one Samuel made all the difference – Grace knew that God was kind.

She didn’t take Samuel to the festival that year. He was too small, and Grace wasn’t ready. She knew that when she took him to House of God, she would leave him. But the next time the family went up, when he did not need her milk, Grace lead him into the House of God and found old Eli, the priest.
“Do you remember me sir – I was here before – I was praying and you spoke to me? I prayed for this child, and the Lord remembered me, and gave me what I wanted. So now I give him back. His whole life will be given over to the Lord.”

And so Samuel grew up with Eli (and his scoundrel sons – but that is another story…). His mum of course did not forget him, and every year when the family visited the House of the Lord, she came and looked for him. And every year Grace left a coat for him, a little larger each time as he grew. So every day when he put it on he would remember how she told how he was given his name: ‘Samuel – my name means ‘God’s kindness’ and yours means ‘God listens’ – I know now that it is true. Always remember – God is kind, God listens.’