Summa Cum Laude Mothers
My brother and mom spent the night with us last night. So I had my mom with me on Mother’s Day for church for the first time in a long time. My brother, Don, mom, Debbie and I then had lunch together before Don and my mom headed back to Englewood. I then laid down and caught up on some rest and took a nap for the next hour and a half. How about that for the summary of day?!
As I begin my outpatient therapy work, I am going to start using my manual wheelchair more inside the house. This will help with some muscle and strength development and be a good test of endurance. It will be interesting to see how that impacts my strength and endurance for walking with the walker.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:30,31
On this graduation weekend for our family, I am taking the name of this blog from the academic honor, “Summa Cum Laude” which means “with highest praise” and applying it to mothers who excel in their role.
This verse above from Proverbs says, a “’woman who fears the Lord” is worthy of praise in the city gate. The “city gate” was a place where officials took care of community business; it was the place where the greatest crowds would gather. Perhaps in a modern day application, we could say that, “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised…with a Congressional resolution.”
Proverbs 31 is praise to faithful wife, but in the context of Old Testament family that would certainly presume that she is mother as well as wife. The descriptions of her industry reflect care for the family and her “household.” What I find of interest is verse 30 summarizes all the actions of a “wife of noble character” as a woman who “fears the Lord.”
Yesterday I ended my blog with pointing out that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” In a mother’s world today, if there is a quality that is needed in successful “mothering” it is that of wisdom. Mother’s have daily opportunities to play the role of King Solomon in settling disputes among siblings and keeping a watchful eye over their children’s activities, influences and education.
The following Proverbs of Solomon’s have been verified over the last “few thousand” years…
“…a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” Proverbs 10:1
“…a foolish man despises his mother.” Proverbs 15:20
“…a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother”. Proverbs 29:15
One thing that has changed over the course of time is the divided attention of mothers from home and family to careers and other activities. This creates a layer of new challenges for the modern day family.
We are beginning to see some of the ramifications of failing family structures in our society with not only absentee fathers, but neglectful and abusive mothers. That is why this verse from Psalms 109:14 caught my attention, “May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.” David was praying this about his enemies, but I believe they apply when a child’s enemies become his or her own parents.
My friend, State Rep. Spencer Swalm in debating one of the last bills of the session that dealt with providing assistance to those in poverty pointed out with courage, that one of the greatest deterrents to poverty and many of the social problems of our time was a stable loving home with a father and mother.
I realize that there are no guarantees in life. Children who have grown up in the best of families can bring heartache to parents. At the same time children who did not grow up in the best family prove to be productive citizens and responsible adults.
With that in mind, it is important for mothers to train children, serve as a role model and example for children, to treat each child as an individual, being sensitive to his or her own needs and to engage the child’s mind in knowing how to make good decisions on their own.
Here is a final recommendation for the environment for that to happen in…the family dinner table. Sitting down with the entire family for a meal at least 3 or 4 times a week can do wonders to family unity and communication. In our day of “retro” designs and “throwback….” ???? try that one out and see what happens over time.
Happy Mother’s Day to three ladies who have done and are doing it right, my wife, Debbie, daughter, Stephanie and daughter-in-law Bridget.
 Good family resource: www.famtime.com