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Just A Mother
By Claudia
Goodman
She could have been famous.
She could have been a renowned artist. She certainly had the talent for it. She took several art courses in college, and
the instructors predicted a dazzling career for her. But after her first child was born, she put her talent to use in
other ways—guiding her children’s hands as they illustrated school
reports, drawing campaign posters for them, and making signs
that said “Happy Birthday” and “Welcome Home.”
She could have been a famous musician. She played the piano well and sang with a
prestigious group that performed for all the local functions. But instead of accepting the out-of-state
engagements that flooded in, she fashioned her melodies into
lullabies and modified her piano solos into accompaniments for
her children’s recitals. And somehow the applause for their performances
was sweeter to her than all the plaudits she had ever received
for herself.
She could have been a respected scholar. She excelled in her classes at the university
and had a great enthusiasm for learning. But she used her skills to kindle that thirst for knowledge in
each of her children instead—helping them with math problems,
English compositions, and science projects; filling their shelves
with books that would become lifelong friends.
She could have been a prominent career woman. After all, she was highly acclaimed for her
office management skills and sought out by several professional
corporations. But instead,
she used those abilities to organize her home, so that she could
accommodate several children’s needs at once and keep things
running smoothly to help her children reach their potential.
When her husband retired, she could have traveled the world
with him and taken vacations to exotic places. But
instead, she chose to serve four missions with him—in quiet,
faraway places where there was no glory—only love, sacrifice,
and growth. She traded her own pursuits to instill in
her children and grandchildren a burning testimony of the gospel
of Jesus Christ and desire to serve missions themselves.
She had a different end in mind.
While other women were busy building their own prestige and
making a name for themselves, she spent her time and money investing
in her children and grandchildren. She
never recorded an album, ran a marathon, displayed her paintings
in an art show, received a doctoral degree, held a student body
office, spoke as valedictorian of a college, published a book,
performed for millions around the world, presented a paper at
a distinguished national convention, designed a mansion, taught
at a university, was honored as a National Merit Scholar, influenced
the outcome of a UN Conference, became head of a college, or
served as CEO of a company. But
because of the time she invested in her children and grandchildren,
she has seen the fulfillment of each of these accomplishments—through
them.
She has never had an impressive list of her own achievements,
but one of her greatest assets is that she was always home
for her children. Now
they are all gone and married; yet they return home often, with
their children and grandchildren. And
still she is always there to welcome them. Her
grandchildren choose to live with her while they attend college,
preferring her house to the dorms. Why? It feels like home.
Chances are, you have never heard of this remarkable woman. She
usually remains in the background. But
if you look closely at all she has achieved, you will find that
it far surpasses the individual accomplishments of any woman
who has ever lived. You see, she has made the wisest investment of all. A mother’s influence not only blesses her
own children, but their children’s children’s children as well. Her accomplishments will not die with her,
like those of the most successful career woman in history. They will go on forever, as her posterity
expands. She is the one
who has truly made a name for herself. Who
is she? Her name is simply
Mother—my mother
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© 2003 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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