The Impact of Mothers

by Ron Bare

As we continue our theme of impact for 2021 at BWA I thought it would be appropriate to spend time focusing on the impact of mothers. Mother’s Day is just around the corner – in case you forgot, it’s May 9^th! Mother’s Day is a day reserved to honor and celebrate the mother of a family, and according to Wikipedia “as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society”.

I was blessed to have a mother that exemplified all that God designed a Mom to be. She had a true servant heart and selflessly served her family daily, worked harder than anyone I know, and modeled well a Proverbs 31 woman.  She was always available to talk to, ready with a hot breakfast when my brother and I would come in from the barn (I can still remember sitting at the island and she would flip pancakes onto our plates!) She loved raising puppies, collecting funny things like beanie babies and McDonalds dalmation toys, and she loved to say “not in my book” when she disagreed with something! – we’d always ask her when she was going to write that book!  After a six month battle with cancer in early 2019 she went home to be with her Lord Jesus. When she was diagnosed with cancer (her second round with this awful disease), the depth of her faith became such an inspiration to all of us as she lived it more openly than ever before. Her life Bible verse is found in Proverbs; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” My Mom trusted her life – all the days of it, to the Lord. Prior to her passing she put this verse on a laminated card and gave it to all her children and grandchildren. I read this every morning before I head out for my day and reflect on the truth and impact of living these verses out.

I am prone to lean on my own understanding, and when I do, the “right path” becomes foggy quickly. Learning to trust the Lord and lean into His wisdom, and seeking His will is a daily battle for me, and probably for you as well. When we fight and win this battle, we experience freedom to live without fear – which was exactly what my Mom did over the last months of her life. We never once saw or heard fear in her.  Finding the right path in life is not accomplished on our own but rather with a dependance on our creator. My Mom taught me this and continues to remind me of this daily through the legacy she has left her family.  She passed with her family by her side, loved and missed by her husband, children and grandchildren – a life so well lived!

I am so thankful for the impact my Mom had in my life. Motherhood should be honored and celebrated – my mom embraced her role as a mother, and it showed in the way her family rallied to her in her time of greatest need. I find it ironic that our culture seems to want to blur the lines of what it means to be a mother and/or father. These are roles to honor and celebrate and essential to the wellbeing of healthy families and communities. As Mother’s Day approaches be sure to tell your mom (or mother figure in your life), the impact she has had on your life (while she is still with you) and if you have lost your mom take some time to reflect on her life and the sacrifices she made on your behalf. Then together let us honor the moms in our areas of influence and be sure they know we appreciate the sacrifices, impact, and love they have showed to us and the next generation.