Moms Just Want to Help
A few years ago, Reader’s Digest asked readers to submit their favorite stories about their mothers. I loved one written by a lady named Talea. She said that her mother had taken a recent CPR class at a local community college and completed the course. She and her mom were in a local mall and saw a large crowd around a person on the ground.
The mother ran through the crowd showing, “Everyone back! I know CPR!” and threw herself on the person. The mother was about to begin the process when a strong pair of hands reached down and pulled her to her feet. Then a voice said to her, “Ma’am, we are trying to arrest this man.”
The policeman then let Talea’s mother go. [Source]
That story may be hilarious, but does it not represent so well the heart of most mothers? No matter the situation, they just want to help. From skinned knees as a little kid to broken hearts as teenagers to marriage and parenting issues as adults, moms feel drawn to help. And we are grateful they do.
Typically, men want to step in with one solution and fix a situation, but moms want to help–not just fix–it. They might help pump the low bicycle tire, but they’ll have their free hand on the child’s shoulder while doing it, to help them feel better. Dad usually just fixes the flat. Mom will not just throw a bandage on a cut, she’ll dry a tear and blow to make the pain not so strong. She wants to do more than fix; she wants to help.
As Mother’s Day approaches, not everyone enjoys the buildup and the holiday. For some, this is a difficult day, because of loss or because of a strained (or even broken) relationship with their mother. We certainly pray for those who struggle on this day.
But for most people, there are blessings that come with thinking about how their mom has helped–or continues to help. They see the thoughtful smile, the loving touch, the lessons, the careful words, and the overheard prayers. What they cannot see or understand until they have children of their own are the countless unheard prayers, unending hours, and lonely tears as that mom agonizes with how to help a child with everything from math to morals. Her heart hurts when she thinks she has not helped, and it aches when she believes she cannot help.
And for every mom, that heart that aches is actually a gift, because it shows that her heart is still in the right place. Thank you to every mom–whether she knows CPR or not–who just longs to help, and who does all she can to help.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
