Mother. Just “Mother”;
no more, no less. Roll that word around on your tongue for a minute. That one word is full of so much emotion. It is likely to bring up an immediate mental
image of the woman who gave us life and/or raised us. The image will vary:
- Different shapes, sizes, and colors
- Diverse cultures, systems of belief, and geographical regions
- Various levels of commitment and responsibility
Yes, the
women who gave us life aren’t made from the same cookie cutter. In addition,
the environments they offer us aren’t all the same. Some of us grow up in happy
homes with the woman who gave birth to us. Others were raised with a different
family dynamic.
That’s
okay. They all have something to offer,
and we wouldn’t be alive without them.
Today, I am going to celebrate all mothers, those holders of the most
crucial, yet underpaid (read “unpaid”) job in the world. What do these self-sacrificing
angels (though they may not always act
like angels) offer us?
My Late Mother
She had me
at the advanced age of almost 46 years old.
My five siblings range from 9 to 21 years older than me. Iris Lillywhite hadn’t planned to have any
more children, but she changed her mind when my father expressed his desire to
add to the family.
It goes
without saying that there were roadblocks to raising a child at an advanced age.
She thought she was done with the process of giving birth and raising children
from the earliest stages. Yet, Mom, the trooper, persevered. What did she
offer?
- She cared about my relationships and education.
- Her skills and interest in literature and the arts fostered a kindred, lifelong obsession in me.
Thanks for
everything, Mom! I know you’re watching over me from Heaven!
Camille
Soon after
she married, she emigrated to the U.S from another country. She didn’t speak
the language, and she had no marketable job skills. Her husband didn’t earn much
money, and he immediately spent whatever he made. Camille immediately took on
any jobs she could find to help supplement the family income. She also made
sure that her children learned to speak English and kept up with their studies.
Tina
This strong
woman is helping her grown daughter through a tough time right now. She prays
for her continually. Tina also sets aside her own plans to have hour-long
conversations by phone—in the middle of the night.
Cindy
This mother
and grandmother lends constant support to her children who are dealing with
ongoing medical and personal challenges.
Diana
This
hands-on grandmother lives near some of her grandchildren. This gives her the
opportunity to take them on play dates and to school functions.
Sarah
This mother
of grown children has always sacrificed so that her special-needs child could
receive all the benefits she deserves. When her child was recently in an
accident, Sarah handled all the legal and medical situations.
My Conclusion
Mothers give
us life; we wouldn’t be here without them. They are a strong influence during
our childhood. In addition, their influence is felt well beyond the time when we
move out of the family home.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.”
************
“Love never ends.”
************
“So now faith, hope and love abide; these three, but the greatest
of these is love.”—1 Corinthians 10: 7, 8, and 13 (ESV)
Related Posts
How are you thankful to your mother?
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