Yester-time Moms

I often wonder if my mother would be the same parent today as she was in the 50’s. Although the voices of culture have made radical changes in family life, I believe she would.  Her child-rearing principles were unchanging.

Challenges are countless for the moms of today.  They go a hundred miles a minute and feel guilty because they didn’t go a hundred and fifty. I speak with many women who are weary-busy.

I understand.  I remember.

But, the challenges of yesteryear moms must have seemed overwhelming!

Think about the ancient moms of the Bible.  Eve, the garden mom, the first woman to have a baby.  Wow!  No books, no midwife, no fig leaf layette.  After the fall, she suffered the heartbreak of dysfunction in her family . . . brother against brother.

The sacred mama of Jesus labored while on a donkey, birthing her holy baby on the floor of a cave.  And then, this young mom had the responsibility to teach and protect the baby Messiah.

Fast forward to the time of television moms . . . extremes from June Cleaver to Peg Bundy, the “ladies we’ve learned from.”  However, my admiration was for the wise Caroline Ingalls, the pioneer mom of Little House on the Prairie, and Olivia Walton, the faithful mountain mama, who continually kept loving order among her brood of seven.

They never seemed to have a meltdown.

Through the ages, God’s design for the amazing role of mother-dom is unchanging . . . to give life, teach, nurture and protect the heritage God has given us.  It has been my privilege to be a mom, no matter the stage my children were growing through, no matter the season I was going through.  I have learned much from them.

And, unlike Ma Ingalls or Mama Walton, I’ve had a melt-down . . .

No matter how our culture changes, a mother’s heart remains.

I look to my own mother, an everlasting example to me.  Not a biblical mom, not a tv mom, but a practical woman with extravagant dedication to her family.  Her eye was faithfully upon me clear and steady, and remained upon me when it faded and became framed in flesh timelines – still holding out a wrinkled hand of help.  She infused strength down to her granddaughter and greats.

No matter what stage of mamahood or grammahood, we can be a strong influence and example to leave long after our homegoing.  So, on this I Remember Mama Day, I honor her, and I honor my children who have allowed me to be a lasting legacy in their life.

And I honor the moms of today who are the yester-time moms of tomorrow.