Last summer, my mother passed about one month short of her 94th birthday. This coming Mother’s Day will be my first without her. In honor of her, I wanted to share a tribute to all mothers.
A few years ago, a video of a fake job interview was posted on YouTube. The purpose of the video was to illustrate the grossly underappreciated challenge and responsibilities of being a mother. Below is an edited and consolidated transcript from this video modified to clarify the conversation.
Interviewer: First, a little bit about the job; it's not just a job it's the most important job. The current title is director of operations but it's really much more. The responsibilities and requirements are extensive. For example, the job requires mobility and stamina as most of the work is performed by standing up and frequently bending over.
Candidate: For how many hours?
Interviewer: The hours are unlimited. It's basically twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week.
Candidate: You have a chance, from time to time, for a break, don’t you?
Interviewer: No, there are no breaks.
Candidate: Is this even legal?
Interviewer: Yes, it is. Furthermore, you have to prepare all meals and can only eat after all the other associates have completed their meals.
Candidate: I think that's a little intense—that's crazy!
Interviewer: This position requires excellent interpersonal skills. We're looking for someone with a degree in organizational behavior, medicine, finance, and the culinary arts. The position also requires multitasking; the associates need constant and varied attention. The work environment will frequently be chaotic. There will be no vacations and holidays. In fact, work increases during holidays. And this position requires a positive disposition at all times.
Candidate: That's cruel—very sick and twisted! When would I sleep?
Interviewer: There is little time to sleep; sometimes there will be no sleep because an associate may require attention all night. This job is all encompassing.
Candidate: That's inhumane; it's insane!
Interviewer: You can enjoy meaningful connections with the associates—the feeling that you get from helping them can be very gratifying. In fact, it can be so gratifying that there is no salary; the position pays absolutely nothing.
Candidate: Excuse me?
Interviewer: What if I told you that currently there are millions of people performing this job all around the world? They are called . . . moms.
Candidate: Of course, only moms would do this job and I am so grateful that they do!1
Indeed, moms have the most difficult and underappreciated jobs in the world. They are the ones who bear the heavy load of producing the next generation. Not only do they give birth, they are, in most cases, the primary caregivers of children and carry the most responsibility for raising them. This means they are strategically preparing the next generation—the leaders and shapers of society in the future.
Scripture reveals much about the responsibilities of mothers. For example, consider the following Scriptural activities that moms routinely perform:
Correcting and disciplining: “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15 ESV).
Teaching and training: “Forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck” (Proverbs 1:8–9 ESV).
Nursing and caring: “Like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV).
Advocating: “A Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon’" (Matthew 15:22 ESV).
Proverbs 31 presents a glowing tribute to wives and mothers. This acrostic poem extols their virtues.2 Excellent mothers (and wives) are trustworthy and faithful. They are productive planners, providers, and protectors for their families. They are sensitive to the needs of society. They are mentally, emotionally, and physically strong. They are efficient. They are kind. They are wise and share their wisdom with others. They are respected by their families and all who know them. They are beautiful inside and outside. They make their husbands look good. They are women who fear the Lord—they walk with God! They are excellent—a precious treasure! Here is Solomon’s tribute in his own words:
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV)
The faithful work of mothers and fathers to reproduce and raise godly children is what enables civilizations to grow and prosper. It takes both a mother and a father to conceive children and it takes both working together to properly raise children.
Mothers and fathers are the first authority figures in the lives of children. This means they are the first commissioning agents for each of us. The role of commissioning agents is to discern the purpose of God for us, direct us to that purpose, prepare us for that purpose, and support us in fulfilling that purpose.
All of this is done congruent with the overarching virtue of love. Biblically defined, love is sacrificially serving the purpose of God in another.3 For most children, their mothers display the virtue of love like no one else. For all of us who find and fulfill our divinely ordained purposes, one of the major reasons for success is, almost invariably, our mothers.
For me personally, in whatever way I have found and fulfilled the purpose of God for my life, I owe so much to my mother. I am profoundly grateful for her.
I praise the Lord for excellent selfless mothers who sacrifice so much to produce the next generation so that they can serve the purpose of God. Mothers love deeply and bless greatly! Let us rejoice and give thanks for the precious gift of mothers and wish them all a very Happy Mother’s Day!
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1.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/job-emails-work-hours-france-23305457.
2. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
3. John 3:16.
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