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     Being a mom is tough assignment and often a thankless job.  Motherhood requires the discipline of a monk, the will of a hurricane, and the patience of Job.  The shaping of a life takes an ocean of love, skill and wisdom; and yet, it’s not always easy for moms to know what is the right thing to do for their kids.  How do today’s mothers decide what is truly important?  How does a woman of excellence know what is worthy of her time? 

     In the Bible, there is a poetic description of a woman, who is exalted with dignity and honor.  This choice woman has a well-ordered life.  She’s got her act together.  One role that she takes quite seriously is her relationship to her children.  Her relationship with her kids is marked by protection.  It is with the protective care of a mother hen that Proverbs 31:21 says, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”  Cold weather doesn’t cause this woman to panic.  As a good momma, she’s prepared for it.  A scarlet cloth was considered to be an excessive garment.  She spares no cost when it comes to protecting her family from the cold.

     It could very well be that you do not have a struggle with getting warm clothes for your kids.  But maybe God would have you do a better job of protecting your kids by monitoring their friends from school, or by putting a filter on their computer, or by installing password protection on your cable TV.  Maybe it’s time to enroll your kids in a self-defense school that offers TaeKwon-Do or one of the other martial arts.  It is an excellent mom who provides real protection.

     Not only is she concerned with protection, she is also concerned with instruction.  When she speaks to her children, verse 26 informs us that “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  She says nothing that is foolish, nothing that is ill-natured.  But you know as well as I do that words alone don’t go far enough.  They have to be complimented by a life.  That’s why verse 25 says, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.”  Figuratively, she is clothed or covered with integrity. 

     As a result of her relationship with her kids being marked by protection and instruction, the response they give her is one of appreciation.  Verse 28a says, “Her children rise up and bless her.”  Unfortunately, most moms would probably keel over if their kids routinely got out of bed in the morning and said, “Mom, you sure are the best mom in the world!  You’re swell!”  If your child did that, you might feel your child’s forehead and ask “Are you feeling okay today?  All right, all right . . . What do you want?”

     You may not be in the habit of blessing your mom.  That is not something that you make a practice of doing the first thing in the morning or at any other time of the day.  But if your mom has taken care of you and tended to your needs, then she’s worth your appreciation and not just on Mother’s Day.