Bulletin

Mothercare
Lindsay A. Allen

Mothercare is the name of a local business. Each time I see this name over the entrance, tears well up in my eyes. A lump rises in my chest, and my body surges with emotion. Memories from yesteryear race through my brain bringing back scenes from my childhood and my own mother. She was there when I needed her. When I came home from school, my first word was "Mother". Her response meant so much to me. I shutter to think what my life would have been without her. Many readers of this article will echo these words. While fathers play a vital role in shaping the live of children, with few exceptions, behind every successful man there are two women: his wife and his mother. God made woman for that purpose. Away with the idea of unisex!

Someone has well said, "An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy." Mothers serve only from love for their own flesh and blood. Her love has no restraints or bounds. There is no substitute for a real mother. Napoleon once said, "The greatest need of France is mothers." Abraham Lincoln said, "All I am and all I hope to be I owe to my angel mother." Samuel, John the Baptist and Timothy could repeat these words. Paul instructed Titus to "speak sound doctrine. . .to teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (to be) discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:1, 4-5). In light of the foregoing, it is tragic that many woman fly in the face of scripture, history and reason to abandon the home and seek (careers) in the marketplace.

It is understandable that there are occasions when the mother must seek employment outside the home. But we still rejoice to hear a young father say, "We'll live on bread and water before she goes to work." There is no doubt that one of the greatest needs in the United States is mothers. A woman who chooses a life of motherhood has chosen a career that, not only will bring her a life of joy and satisfaction, but also one in which she will have an opportunity to shape the world. Let us not forget the old adage, that still rings true, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."

In Honor of Mothers ... Author Unknown

• My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done: "If you're gonna kill each other, do it outside - I just cleaned up in here!"
• My mother taught me religion: "You better pray that comes out of the carpet."
• My mother taught me about time travel: "If you don't straighten up, I'm gonna knock you into the middle of next week!"
• My mother taught me logic: "Because I said so, that's why."
• My mother taught me foresight: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
• My mother taught me irony: "Keep on crying and I'll give you something to cry about."
• My mother taught me about the science of osmosis: "Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"
• My mother taught me about contortionism: "Will you just look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"
• My mother taught me about stamina: "You'll sit there 'till all that spinach is finished."
• My mother taught me about weather: "It looks like a tornado tore through your room."
• My mother taught me how to solve physics problems: "If I yelled because I saw a bus coming toward you; would you listen then?"
• My mother taught me about hypocrisy: "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times - Don't Exaggerate!!!"
• My mother taught me the circle of life: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
• My mother taught me about behavior modification: "Stop acting like your father!"
• My mother taught me about envy: "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).

Give special attention to your mother today! She deserves it.