Just a Mother!

Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise. Many women have done wonderful things, but you have outclassed them all. Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear of God. Give her everything she deserves. Proverbs 31:28-31 The Message

There are occasions in this life when you are afforded the opportunity to meet and talk with people, and you wonder at first why God put them in your path.? Later, His plan is revealed and you marvel at how it was orchestrated.

Such a time arose for me several months ago when a lady with a sweet smile and kindly manner started coming to the pool. There was a way about her that reminded me somewhat of my Mama. She kept mostly to herself, but she was always quick to smile and say “hello”. One day as there were only the two of us in the pool, we introduced ourselves and shared a few bits of small talk and questions of how each of us was enduring the pandemic. Her name is Marie, and she is a very special lady.

One morning Marie was visibly different, and I inquired about her health and situation. She began by saying she just didn’t feel well and although she had been through some tests, the doctors couldn’t find anything that made them worry. She commented that she just couldn’t remember things and wasn’t as strong as she had been.

As we continued to talk and speculate about what could be wrong, she said, “You know, I don’t worry about myself, but I just don’t want to be a burden to my husband.” It seems that her husband is 83 years old, active, eats well, and is healthy. He was a chief officer in three different companies during his career, and she thinks he deserves worry free retirement years.

I asked about her career, and she said, “Oh, I was just a mother.” What a statement! Just a mother! Yes, she was just a mother to four children, seven grandchildren and three greats. Just a mother who helped her husband to have a successful career because she ran his home and cared for his children. Just a mother who loves her children, talks to them, treats them with respect, and raised them in a strong stable family.

I took the next moments to tell her about my own Mama and how she might not have finished college, might not have had her own career, but that she was the backbone of our family. Mama had such a beautiful soprano voice that she could have had her own career, but instead she sang for free everywhere from church to weddings, funerals to nursing homes and countless other volunteer opportunities. She was available for her three girls which allowed my Daddy to leave early in the morning to farm, come home late at night and make a living for his family!

There is no job which takes more skills, understanding, patience, and love than those needed by a Mother in all she does. Think of the mothers God himself picked and honored. Mary, Sarah, Rebekah, Eve, and Elizabeth just to name a few.

Mothers make a difference in the lives of their children. Not every mother gives to her children in the same way, but each Mother is a blessing and gift from God. In short, Mothers gift us with an inheritance. When someone loves you enough to leave you an inheritance, you should treasure it and treat it in a way that honors the giver. God has given us Mothers, and the children He has provided us are the greatest inheritance. No mother is just a mother but rather a treasure.

Happy Mother’s Day to each and every Mother!