Mother's Work

Most people over the age of thirty-five know this phrase signifies that, for mother's, there is always something to do. Whether it is cooking, cleaning, putting band-aids on scraped knees, going to PTA meetings, or playing taxi while you drive a mini-van filled with kids to the movies or roller-skating, the role of "mother" is hardly a 9-5 job.

Never before have I felt the tug of 24-7 parental commitment, than at this point in my own children's life; the trying teenage years. While some teens fly through this hormonal and emotional period with a breeze, many teenagers and their families endure great moments of stress that would try even the patience of Job.

A mother in this same predicament wrote, asking me if I had any advice to offer her. From what her letter revealed, their house had become more a war ground, than "home sweet home."

My advice was to continue to love and pray daily for her children, something we often forget to do when we don't "feel" like it.

When times are tough, and it appears we have exhausted all our options; pray. When anger and frustration is infiltrating your mind, dig down deep and remember the love and commitment. When warm and fuzzy emotions feel far from the surface, call out to God and let Him remind you that you are loved, and so too, are you called to love.

Perhaps today's inspirational is not what you expected, but the reality is, not all families are currently running as smooth a level of operation as that revealed on the old 50's sitcom, "Leave It To Beaver." Not all mothers are standing in front of their stoves today, dressed in pearls and high heels, gleaming a smile that continually radiates the joys of motherhood, while they baste a ham. Likewise, our children are not always sweet and mannerly. The truth is, some mothers will not be issued any type of recognition this Mother's Day. There will be no boxes of candy, or fragrant corsages, or hand-drawn cards of crayon.

Today's Daily Wisdom is for such mothers; the ones who have given selflessly and to the best of their abilities. No one said motherhood would be easy, and just as we endured the messy diapers, sleepless nights cradling a feverish child in our arms, and dealing with the "Terrible Twos," with little or no recognition, so too will these trying moments pass. When it happens, we will look back and say, "yes, it was difficult at times, but this is exactly what being a mom is all about; enduring the hard times along with the good times, just like marriage, for better or worse, sickness and health." Recognition might not come today in the form of cards or flowers, but it will come from deep inside you; from knowing you have done a job well done.

It is true, a mother's work is never done. As long as our hearts are beating, and our lungs are working, our job will never end. As does God love us 24-7, so too is this esteemed role of motherhood.

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr