In May we honor mothers. So this month I have a few stories about mothering and hopefully some encouragement for you as a mom.

As most of you know, I live and serve in Malaysia. While our sons were in school here, I was a stay-at-home-mom. My husband traveled a lot, but I was nearly always with our sons. However, every three months I had to leave and re-enter Malaysia for a new tourist pass to live here. On one of my returns to Malaysia I had the following conversation with the Immigration officer. Agent: What is this occupation, ‘homemaker?’
Me: I make a home for my husband and two sons.
Agent: So you’re a contractor? Or a builder?
Me: No, I take care of those inside my home.
Agent: Then you’re a housewife.
Me: No, I’m not the wife of a house, I’m a wife and mother.
Agent: On our form the only answer for someone like you is ‘housewife.’

A woman in the U.S. had a more successful encounter with a clerk at the Department of Motor Vehicles when she was renewing her driver’s license.
Clerk: What is your occupation?
Woman: I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.
Clerk: What?
Woman: I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.
Clerk: What do you do in your field?
Woman: I have a continuing program of research– (don’t we all?)
In the laboratory and in the field–(indoors and out)
I already have 4 credits–(all daughters)
for my Master–(The Master)
I often work 14 hours a day–(more like 24)
And the rewards are more satisfaction than money.

The clerk seemed appropriately awed. She wrote the new title on the form. And the woman walked out of the office with her head high as the record now showed her as more distinguished and indispensable than just a MOTHER.

Here are a few things for you to think about:

Your children didn’t just ‘happen.’ Each one of them is a gift from God to you. You are not the owner of that child, but rather God’s steward of them.

Your child will not be perfect. Your child is a son of Adam or a daughter of Eve. Of course you will have to train him or her, but your most important job will be to direct their attention and stir their heart to love their Savior Jesus.

God does not expect you to be a perfect mom. He knew who He was asking to raise that child. He expects you to ask Him for wisdom every time you need it. He has promised to always give us wisdom when we ask: Jam. 1:5.

You do not know who you are raising. He or she might be the discoverer of the prevention of cancer, a Nobel peace prize winner, or the one who translates the Bible for the very last language group in the world. It is worth all the hard work!

Listen to your children when they want to talk to you. It can be tiresome and boring, but it is with the attention you pay to them that you earn the right to be heard when they need to hear from you.

Spend as much time as possible with your children. Soothe them, play with them, read to them and sing lullabies to them. Enjoy your child and teach them to enjoy their world.

Pray with them and for them. See that they have the opportunity to experience God answering prayer.

Finally, trust God to supply the part of parenting that you are not able to give. Perhaps you’re not the ruffles and lace kind of person, you can count on someone, somewhere giving your daughters fancy dresses and teaching them to use makeup properly. Or maybe you just cannot tramp through the bush with your sons. God will see that someone comes along and fills the gap. Just as He does that, He can teach our children the spiritual and emotional lessons we are incapable of teaching them.

Trust in God at all times, O (Mom), pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.–My adaptation of Psalm 62:8.

Lift up your head and walk tall. You are a mom, the best mom for that little child.