MOTHER
A church newsletter that arrived in the mailbox this week had “A Tribute to Mothers” which included various identifying features and descriptions of mothers by Fred Cruz. Entitled “Mother,” the tribute presented the following…
- “A mother is a curious mixture of patience, kindness, tolerance, understanding, discipline, industry, purity, and love;
- A mother can be at one and the same time both…a counselor to a heart-sick daughter and a head football coach to an athletic son;
- A mother can sew the tiniest stitch in the material for that dainty prom dress and she is equally experienced in threading through the heaviest of traffic with a large station wagon;
- A mother is the only creature on earth who can cry when she’s happy, laugh when she’s heartbroken, and work when she’s sick;
- A mother is as gentle as a lamb and as strong as a giant. Only a mother can appear so weak and helpless and yet at the same time can put the fruit jar cover on so tightly that even dad can’t get it off;
- A mother has the angelic voice of a member of the celestial choir as she sings the Brahms Lullaby to a baby held tightly in her arms and yet the same voice can dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she calls her boys for supper;
- A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at once and she alone can somehow squeeze an enormous amount of living into an average day;
- A mother is old-fashioned to her teenager. She’s just “mom” to her third-grader, and she’s “mama” to the little two-year old. There’s no greater thrill in life than to point to that wonderful woman and be able to say to all the world… “That’s my mother.”
The woman of noble character is a mother who “is clothed with strength and dignity, laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:25-28). These verses summarize the virtue, value, and veracity of one who addresses the tasks, challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities associated with motherhood voluntarily and valiantly.
Moms are special and worthy of “the reward she has earned” (Proverbs 31:31). Moms strive to do their best at all times. Family should strive to honor and thank these special women more frequently than one day each year. So, as you purchase flowers, mail a card, or make a phone call, remember the investment of time, energy, and other resources poured into you by your mom. More importantly, be reminded that this investment is simply a tangible expression of her unlimited and unconditional love for you.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for mothers and especially for my mom! Thank you for her influence on me and for helping to point me to You. As we honor mothers this week, may we be reminded of the importance of mothers and the influential role that they have in all of our lives. May our attitude and actions reflect our love and appreciation for our mothers. Amen.
Daniel