For Mother’s Day

The opening lines of Elizabeth Akers Allen’s famous poem are the heart’s cry of a world- weary woman remembering her mother’s tender love.

BACKWARD, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for to-night!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!

My mother still chokes up when she talks about her mother who passed away in 1997. Mothers have a way of making an indelible mark on us, one way or another. It is an awesome responsibility before God as to what kind of mark we make upon our children. It doesn’t take a big education, plenty of money or books laden with child rearing theory to make a positive imprint on our children. In fact, the humblest mother who simply loves her child above herself is better equipped to parent a child than the most educated careerist who denies her own maternal instincts and pursues instead her own greatness in the business world. A mother who loves herself more than her own child is a great danger to the well-being of that little one.

I love the paintings of American impressionist Mary Cassatt. Her paintings express wordlessly the beauty of the bond between mother and child. What mother can’t identify with the feeling of that soft baby cheek under her lips as in this painting? A woman’s heart won’t find this kind of delight in the boardroom, that’s for sure! We’ve been wired to nurture. You can’t choose career over baby without doing violence to that wiring.

With Mother’s Day approaching, I want to mention my own “babies”, who are now 22, 21, nearly 20, 12, and 11. Jonathan, Charles, Samuel, Mary and William, you are so precious to me. I thank the Lord for the time I was able to nurture each of you. Despite many mistakes and the times I failed as a Christian mother, you still show love and respect for me, and I thank-you for that! I am praying for each one of you that you will seek the Lord with all your hearts and let Him guide your steps.

A blessed and happy Mother’s Day to the mothers reading this, especially those who live in less than ideal circumstances and struggle to be a Christian mother in spite of hard times. God is faithful. Look to Him for everything. God never failed to help me in the dark times I lived through with two little ones years ago, and even the things I saw as terrible and insurmountably bad, God has used for His glory. He continues to guide and direct through all circumstances. Praise His name.

And to my own mother, all three of your children and all 9 grandchildren rise up and call you blessed. Thank you for everything, Mom. You are deeply loved.