Portrait of Mother

Mothers appear to be normal human beings.  They have all the physical features everyone else has:  two eyes, two hands, two arms, two feet, all connected to one body.  These are the visible characteristics of this special woman.  But, there is far more to her than meets the eye.

All children know that mothers must have at least three sets of eyes.  She has two sets not readily apparent in any family portrait.  One set must be in the back of her head for she can see things no child can ever figure how she did.  Neither brick, mortar, nor plaster seem to be able to hide the actions of a mischievous child.

And, those two ears are not normal.  They appear to be normal on the outside, but they are, in fact, bionic.  Mothers can hear an off-color word spoken under the breath a block away.  They can hear the mumbling and complaining of a child in another room sent off to do some task they don’t want to do at all.
Furthermore, they just know that mothers have more than two arms and two hands.  It must be true because they can prepare a meal, find dad’s shirt, change a diaper, run the vacuum cleaner, and whack two kids who are out of line all at the same time.  Those extra arms and hands just seem to come out of nowhere.

Her legs must be bionic as well.  She moves as fast as a speeding bullet to all the spots where trouble lurks.  She patrols the yards where kids are playing, stops fights, rushes to catch a tennis ball before it is flushed down the toilet, and scoops up a baby who is about to tumble down the stairs.

Finally, she holds more jobs than any other worker in our society.  She is barber, beautician, fashion consultant, chairwoman, budget director, head purchasing agent, paramedic, travel agent interior designer, and household CEO.  And, all of this is wrapped in a package of love and tenderness that those who know her best remember all their lives. 

This is the very mother that we find in Proverbs 31:10-31.  She was busy constantly.  “She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands…she brings food from afar.  She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household…she considers a field and buys it”  This sounds eerily like my mother.  Is she yours too?

— Mike Johnson