We Need More Great Mothers

I am so amazed by the impact a mother has on her family. I am not surprised by the impact, just amazed. As my brother and I were traveling to the funeral of my sister-in-law's beloved mother last Saturday, we began to discuss the impact our own mother had on our lives. We tried to figure out what made our mother, of so very modest means, so good at raising close-knit, self-sufficient and hard-working children. What did she know or do that perhaps the mother down the street from our house or on the next block just couldn't figure out?

I learned today of a mother that was openly communicating that she didn't believe her daughter had what it takes to succeed in college. And this was done not jokingly, but in a derogatory manner. Definitely no Mother of the Year award for her!

At the funeral, we said goodbye to another mother of modest means who somehow knew the right combination of love, generosity and discipline for raising a pretty decent crop of children. When I heard one of the young men attending the funeral say that he just couldn't bear to go through with the funeral, I asked my sister-in-law what was his relationship to her mother. She shared that he was one of several grandchildren and that somehow her mother had managed to make all of the grandchildren feel special, loved and very important.

While we want every child to experience that type of grandmotherly and motherly love, we know there are far too many children that do not. Moms, we must strive to join the ranks of the Great Mothers. We don't have to be rich or highly-educated or perfect to be a great mom. In fact, the specific steps to being a great mom will vary from family to family. And certainly being a great mom doesn't mean you will achieve notoriety. I think it does mean that you will have a profound and positive impact on so many lives, that it is truly worth the effort.

What a privilege and blessing to be raised by a great mother.