I would like to share a story about the influence that a mother can have on her family. It inspired me as I hope it inspires you. I chose a pink rose as the picture for this post because a pink rose represents admiration and appreciation.
I think that sometimes motherhood does not receive the credit that it deserves. Much of my life, I didn't realize or purposefully think about my role as a mother. I did the best I could with the knowledge that I had. Now I know better. I always knew that being a mother was a huge responsibility., but I hadn't been proactive in planning the best way to mother.
After accepting Jesus into my life, I read books about being a woman after God's own heart. A woman who could reflect God's love to her family and others. One thing that I learned that I thought could be monumental in a family, is creating a home atmosphere that is peaceful, loving, and organized. This creates a safe haven for the members of the family to come to after a hard day at work or school. This actually became very real to me one night when I returned from a long day working at my store in the mall. My husband had encouraged all the kids to work together with him to clean and organize the house and prepare dinner. When I walked in, the house was clean and in order, dinner was made, and everyone was sitting there with a big smile of accomplishment on their faces. I wept at the beauty of it all and at the thought that they would do that for me without me ever asking.
If one is aware of the positive impact this can have on her family, a mother can set the tone of the home so that it is a loving, safe haven for her family to retreat to after they come home from work or school. If she is a mom who works outside the home, of course she will need help from her family to create this retreat. This is a great lesson for every family member on how important each person in a family is to help create a loving home environment. So, I honor all of you who are mothers and the role you play in helping to develop resilient, loving human beings.
"A Little Parable About Mothers" by Temple Bailey
The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?, she asked. And the guide said: "Yes. And the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in clear streams; and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near and no harm can come. And the mother said, "This is better than the brightest day, for I have taught my children courage.
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, but at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we could not have done it without you."
And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardship. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength."
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was hard, they helped their mother, and when the way was rough, they lifted her; for she was light as a feather, and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.
And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always be with us, mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."
