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On Mother's Day, we honor mothers for all the things they do to make our lives better. This morning we will focus on the things that Hannah did that produced such a wonderful son.

Samuel was an unusual man in Israel's history. He was one of those people that played several roles. Samuel was a prophet that confronted Eli with his sinfulness (1 Sam. 3:15-18 ), a teacher that called the people to true repentance (1 Sam. 7:1-3 )and a priest that anointed Kings (1 Sam 9:16, 1 Sam 16:10-13.)

Hannah could be proud of her son Samuel. And Samuel had every right to be proud of Hannah; she was a great mother. A wise son honors his mother for what she's done for him.

Every time Paul Lo Duca starts a game as catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he scribbles his mother's initials in the dirt behind home plate. Like most children would be, Lo Duca is sentimental about his mother who passed away from cancer in 1996. But there is more to the ritual than that. Lo Duca is grateful for what his mom did to help him make it to the "show."

When he was a youngster, he took batting practice from his mother in their backyard. They didn't use a ball and a bat, instead, she threw pinto beans toward him and he would hit them with a broom stick. Hitting such a small object with such a narrow stick improved his hand-eye coordination and made him a better hitter.

"She did so much for me," Lo Duca said, "and she was such a big influence on my life." Lo Duca has an attitude a gratitude-which is one of the finest gifts a child can give a mother.

(Fresh Illustrations http://www.freshministry.org/illustrations.html)

So why was Samuel so successful? Did it have anything to do with his mother?

1. Hannah prayed

1 Samuel 1:10-18 NLT Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. [11] And she made this vow: "O Lord Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut." [12] As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. [13] Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. [14] "Must you come here drunk?" he demanded. "Throw away your wine!" [15] "Oh no, sir!" she replied, "I'm not drunk! But I am very sad, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. [16] Please don't think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow." [17] "In that case," Eli said, "cheer up! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him." [18] "Oh, thank you, sir!" she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

Hannah wasn't saying her prayers or doing a religious duty, she was pouring out her heart or as King James puts it, her "soul" before the Lord. She knew prayer. 

History belongs to the intercessors! She walked away, knowing her problem was now history, and that God would do great things with her son.

Yes, Hannah knew how to pray, if you look closely you will see the reason.
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