The Most Important Job In All The World

May is the month when we honor moms, and rightfully so. How many times, as a kids’ camp director, have I seen the positive influence of godly mothers?

How many times, as a football coach, did I see young men charge onto the field in a stadium full of 80,000 people and scan the stands for one person? The most-important person in their lives. The one person who is always on their side, always cheers them on come touchdown or fumble. The one person who, if she’s there, everything is good—and if she’s not, none of the other 79,999 folks matter.

And when the TV camera comes in close on a player after he’s just made a great play, what does that young man say nine times out of ten? “Hi, mom!”

Even before a child is born, mom has nurtured and cared for that little life for nine months. That tiny little boy or girl in the womb knows mom’s voice, mom’s emotions, mom’s diet, mom’s very heartbeat.

Moms display that same sacrificial love every day—cooking, cleaning, nursing, sometimes professionally making a living for her family, tutoring, listening, holding, advocating, and on and on. Tragically, it’s often a thankless job, but there’s none more important in all the world.

I’ve been blessed by two such moms, my own mother and my wife Debbie-Jo, who was and is the world’s best mom to our four kids. I’ve seen them both match the standards of the Proverbs 31 woman, and I’ve seen how my siblings and I, and my own kids, run to them, trust them, and lean on them as the rock of their lives. The interesting thing about these two dear women… Neither one had a father in their lives. Mom’s dad disappeared. Debbie-Jo’s dad was killed in a military jet when she was four. But BOTH of them grew up with a wonderful, sacrificial, hard-working mom and “the Father to the fatherless” to call Dad.

My mom has been securely in heaven with her Savior she dearly loved for 12 years but “the shadow of her smile” (as Tony Bennett sang in the 1960’s) remains ever present with me today. I wish you would have known her! I loved her sweet gentle ways. And now I also love it that when I was a child she could put her foot down hard when I needed to know that something was improper, and I absolutely wasn’t going to participate in it! She was firm but fair, loving but disciplined, nurturing but strong, best buddy but firmly in charge. Mom never sought to be popular. I was her favorite for sure. (Bob thinks he was, and yes, Bill thought he was. 😊) She never said it, but when you were with her… you’d be her favorite too! Man, I miss her! It still hurts that I can’t stop by her house for a visit!

So this month, Moms, know how much you’re loved and appreciated, even if you don’t always hear it said. For us, husbands and children, we have got to take a step up and serve, love and deeply appreciate these dear women in our lives! It IS Mother’s Day… for the next 365 days in a row!

For moms!