Through my eyes
Hoist your glasses, dear ones, to all of the mothers in the world.
There is no doubt that this position in life qualifies as the world's most important. Mother's Day is upon us and perhaps it should be celebrated for an entire week, rather than just a day, because of the enormity and complexity of the position.
If you ask the man on the street to describe the perfect mother, he would most likely paint you a picture of a smiling lady with an apron around her waist, baking cookies, while folding the laundry of her husband and children.
But, I'm sorry, that is just not accurate. Oh yes, she is baking cookies and folding laundry -- after spending her day in the workplace toiling as an attorney, a doctor, educator, C.P.A. or one of a thousand professions in which women of today excel.
Let us not forget that she functions as a wife and has to listen to how tough her spouse's day was when he gets home. It gets even more tedious for the single mothers because they are serving as chief transportation officers for their children -- taking them to school or day care and either picking them up or arranging for someone to do so.
Whew! I am making myself tired just writing this. Can you imagine having to do these largely unappreciated tasks? But as you know this is an everyday schedule for the "Mom."
Too bad that children usually have to reach adulthood to realize and be thankful for the Herculean efforts of the one who loves them most.
See MOMS, page 8A
Moms, from page 1A
Now, don't be offended, Dads. I know you love your kids, but be honest, who does your child run to when they stump their toe and its bleeding? Thank you.
Rev. Tom Nelson tells the story of a small town, years ago, that had only one water supply. The town was fed by one stream and it was kept perfectly clear and pristine by one man who was paid $3,600 a year to do this incredibly important job. Thirty six hundred dollars -- that tells you how long ago this was. Well, as the years went by the town grew and elected a city council, who decided it was time to cut the budget and, as you might have guessed, the keeper of the stream was fired. It wasn't long before the water became oily, discolored and it had a very bad taste. "What to do?" they collectively asked! Let's rehire the keeper of the stream! Great solution; however, the keeper had moved on and was nowhere to be found.
Friends, the keeper of the streams across this country, and the world for that matter, are the mothers of the world. They nurture their children and send out solid adults who become solid citizens and thusly, our world prospers. Proverbs 31 tells us that "she speaks with wisdom, and on her tongue there is tender instruction." Later in this same Proverb it tells us "many women have done noble work, but you have surpassed them all."
Oh, how we should all agree. Mothers, you have outdone them all. Happy Mother's Day.
