The toughest job in the world

[B]Help Wanted:[/B] Requires some expertise as an adviser, counselor, teacher, tutor, coach, event planner, time manager, cheerleader, chauffeur, nutritionist, and health specialist. In addition some janitorial skills required, and fast food preparation mandatory. Some crafting skills are helpful. The person applying must be able to communicate clearly and have a lot of patience.

Hours: The hours are long, and the breaks are few. Must be on call 24/7.

Pay: On a volunteer basis. Little if any monetary payment. No vacation or sick leave.

So are you ready to sign up? There are some jobs that are so demanding that only a few people would dare apply. Hardly anyone in their right mind would want to subject themselves to such a rigorous schedule day in and day out, yet millions of people do it every day. If you haven’t guessed it by now, we’re describing some of the duties and responsibilities that a mother has to fulfill in her multifaceted role.

With Mother’s Day coming up soon, we wanted to give credit to the often silent and unsung heroes of society. The impact of a mother’s love and care for her children is difficult to measure, but undeniably important as children are nurtured in a loving home environment.

Mothers form the heart and soul of a family, and the family is the nucleus of society. If that nucleus is tampered with, the whole fabric of society begins to unravel. Some have tried to demean the role and function of mothers, almost to the point of vilifying those who desire to place motherhood over livelihood. Others are able to juggle work, school, and still do an excellent job raising their children. As nice as it may be to have a prestigious job and title, there is no other success that can compensate for failure in the home.

The role of a mother is much more than the mere physical delivery of a child into the world. Imagine what your life would have been like without the love and support of your mother. Even after a child is reared to adulthood, that love is still constant and often provides the silent strength for children to take on life’s challenges. The sacrifices a good mother makes for her children often go unrecorded and unnoticed.

I remember one school day when I missed the bus and Mom offered to take me in our Ford Pinto. Since I was late, she did not have time to take her curlers out of her hair, so she jumped in the car with her bathrobe and slippers. She decided to take the shortcut to save time; however, a lot of rainfall caused the dirt road to become muddy. As we entered a gully that was only a few hundred yards from the school, the Pinto got stuck in the mud. The wheels spun and Mom did not want me to get covered in mud pushing the car, so she told me to walk the rest of the way to school so I wouldn’t be late.

Later, I learned that when she got out of the car she stepped into some mud and lost one of her slippers. She had to walk over a mile through town in her bathrobe, curlers, and wearing only one slipper. It must have been an interesting sight to people, but it demonstrated to me at the time the sacrifice she was willing to make for me, and it made a powerful enough impression on me to remember it and tell you about it 37 years later.

You can probably think of numerous times when your mother has unselfishly done something for you. It might even happen every day, but it may not have registered with you because it has become expected.

Like we mentioned earlier, there are many roles that your mother has taken on in her desire to be responsible and raise her children properly. These have often been performed without expecting a simple thanks or a show of gratitude. Even with all the roles and responsibilities that challenge mothers, there are also few jobs that can be as rewarding and can have an impact that lasts a lifetime.

This Mother’s Day, think of all the things your mother does to bless your life. How much more difficult would life be if she was not there for you? If you are blessed to have your mother still living, make sure you let her know how you feel. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers of the world who take on the toughest job they’ll ever love.

[I]“Nobody knows of the work it makes
To keep the home together.
Nobody knows of the steps it takes,
Nobody knows—but Mother.”—Anonymous[/I]