Our mothers get recognized once a year for their
year-round selfless dedication to rearing a family. With a few senseless
exceptions, mothers would give their life for their babies, protecting and
nurturing them to the best of their abilities. My mother was blind in one eye
from birth and had difficulties all her life seeing properly with the other
eye. Yet she raised four children each of whom had no doubt she possessed eyes
in the back of her head. I don’t suppose we could thank the mothers of the
world enough for their endless hours of work dedicated to the education and
comfort of her children. Mothers can express their wonderful love in so many
ways, sometimes it can be scary. But we all know, generally, her bark is worse
than her bite. She still loves me.
Who other than a mother knows what the world looks
like at 2a.m., 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.? – And feels like she will never again get a
full night’s sleep. Who other than a mother is able to carry a diaper bag, a
stuffed animal, shopping bag, purse, baby and keys (all in one arm), while
keeping the other hand available to unlock the car, open doors or hold the hand
of another child? Who other than a mother can eat peanut butter and jelly for
several days in a row, counts fruit snacks as a fruit and thinks McDonald’s
(with a playground) is one of the best restaurants in town? Who other than a
mother never goes to sleep at night until each child is checked on, covered up
and kissed? Who other than a mother drives a car decorated with a car seat or
two, empty juice boxes, fruit snack wrappers, a variety of toys and books and
several stale french-fries? Who other than a mother can spend her afternoon
playing a simple board-game, while watching a “Thomas the Train” video and
reading aloud from the book “Go Dog, Go” knowing that it is time well spent?
Who other than a mother can remember the exact moment her baby smiled for the
first time, took their first step or finally said “ma-ma” after saying “da-da’
for months? Who other than a mother with endless chores of dishes, laundry and
cleaning would stop in the middle of these tasks when she hears, “Mommy, will
you play with me?” Who other than a mother will worry constantly and pray
consistently for her children, and know that the most important thing that she
can do for her children is to teach them that God loves them more than she ever
could.
[Ephesians 6:2; Psalm 71] If you are a breathing
somebody, you have been birthed; you have a mother. She has carried you inside
her body while, as David wrote of his intimate relationship with God even
before he was born, so perfectly stated, “For you created my inmost being; you
knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). The job of all parents is
to do their best to work themselves out of a job. To physically nurture a child
to maturity takes some finesse that, I believe, can only come from a mother. Self-sustaining
independence of a child comes from learning and observing the performances of
both parents, but mothers instill that resonance of caring love that even the toughest
macho dude tends to eke out when introduced to his first new-born. Yeh, tears
of joy come from a loving mother. Moms have the toughest time turning loose of
their babies, but I think it’s not near as hard when she has had a firm hand in
their spiritual growth. No, she can’t save you or forgive your sins as does
God, but she has the greatest opportunity to plant the Word of God in the heart
of her children. I can testify to my mother’s unfailing love for me through my
faith in my Lord and Savior.
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