A Tribute to Mothers
Dear Mothers,
Happy Mothers' Day !
Is this a joke ? We are in September !!! No, this is not a joke. I think we should celebrate Mothers' Day, not once a year, but everyday. If you read what I have to say about mothers below, you'll understand why.
Earlier today September 7th (Labor Day in the United States), I was scrubbing the bathroom, then washed the dishes after dinner and then clean the toilets after putting kids to bed. While doing these chores, I thought about moms. And many beautiful thoughts came through my mind as my arms and legs were busy with the chores. Men, if you don't believe me, try out some chores, they belong to you too, whether you like 'em or not ;-)
The main reason I am writing my thoughts down is the fact that I want to do justice to mothers. We are living in a society that tremendously downplays the role of mothers. How naive can that be ? All the works that mothers have to do are quickly dismissed as "nothing". Women with shiny careers are looked up, women who dedicate their lives to take care of children are looked down.
The beginning of mothers starts with the biological changes due to pregnancy. These are no fun for moms. Then come the nine months of carrying the precious child in the womb. You think it's easy ? Try this: take a rugged backpack, stuff it with three gallons of water and then put it on you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You must sleep with it everyday, take a shower with it, put your shoes on with it ... can you picture that ? Then comes the times to deliver baby. Men, be brave stay with your wife during the delivery. You'll feel helpless as you can't do much while your wife is doing all the work to deliver your child.
Do you think it's over ? How about the post-delivery recovery period while putting up with sleepless nights to breastfeed the infant ? What's the life of mothers ? Caring for children. Selecting the best possible food, cooking, cleaning, feeding children. Then helping them to do their homeworks while trying to keep an eye on younger kids. I won't go into all the details but being a mother is no easy job, especially when it is not recognized by husbands and not by a spoiled and materialistic society. Yet, people in their right minds will recognize that mothers are the most important contributors to society.
Let me give you a few examples to illustrate my point. Think about the best CEOs we have out there to run businesses. Think about all the big names like Einstein, Fourier, Newton, etc. Think about geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, etc. Think about the great doctors, firemen, soldiers, police officers, ... to whom we owe our lives. Think about the great teachers that we had. Think about all the great nuns, deacons, priests and bishops who sacrificed their lives for others. All those great people could be great only because of one reason: their mothers once accepted to be mothers, to give them life and to nurture those lives!
So how can we, as a society, be so blind not to recognize the great contributions of mothers ? It's time that we wake up once for all. It's about time that we turn off those TV Reality Shows. The true Reality Show worth watching is the life of mothers. I've witnessed the courage of so many single moms fighting so hard for their children. And other moms who have to deal with brutal and violent husbands.
I don't mean to downplay the role of fathers, as I am a father myself. But this letter is a tribute to mothers, sorry dads. Maybe another time :-)
I will end this tribute by giving you one last example, THE example of motherhood. For folks among you who know about Catholic theology, you know that the highest ranking creature of God in heaven is not an angel, but a human being. Not a man, but a woman: the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was not made Queen of Heaven because she had been a brilliant CEO, nor because she had had a shiny career. She is the Queen of Heaven because when asked by the angel Gabriel, she accepted to be a mother. And for the most Immaculate Heart of Mary to exist, St. Anne, her mother also accepted to become a mother. Do you realize how much we owe to mothers ??
So mothers, make no mistake: although our society is completely blind and fails to recognize you as you deserve, your role as mothers is crucial to humanity. I know sometimes it's tough, but know this: You made the right choice, whether you realize it or not, when you accepted to become mothers. Cherish your role as mothers, your places in heaven will be great. I am giving to you all a deep bow and a big hug. Please receive all my sincere respects.
May Our Lady, our heavenly spiritual Mother, guide you, give you strength and courage in your beautiful role of mother,
S. Thoi.
Published on September 8th, 2009 in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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