mother: n. A female parent, especially of a human; a female who parents a child (which she has given birth to, adopted, or fostered).

My little resident female hummingbird greeted me as I opened the blinds. She perched first on the clothesline, then swooped in to begin her morning with a bath in my fountain. I knew her gender because she is a “plain Jane,” without color, a trait of that particular species of bird. Whereas the male’s head is almost luminescent, rich with colors green and red, the female’s muted plumage allows them to blend into their surroundings. They are the ones in the relationship who build the nests and feed the chicks without help from the males. The females must become almost invisible in order to provide protection from predators and mother their little ones to adulthood.

That’s how it is with us humans, I thought. Mothers are often the least flashy, with baby spit-up on their clothes or dressed in sweats with no make-up as they run from one errand to another–before nap time. And yet their role is critically important in creating, nurturing, and developing our future generations.

May 11 is Mother’s Day in America. Setting aside a specific day in May to honor mothers began in the early 1900’s. Similar celebrations honoring mothers take place around the world in different ways and at different times of the year. The concept of acknowledging the importance of motherhood has been around for a while. According to the History Channel, honoring mothers and celebrating them dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

If a woman wants a career that carries the weight of the world with it, become a mother. No other responsibility is as heavy as that of raising a child. The job has no monetary value attached to it, no hourly or annual salary, yet it is priceless. Being a mother is not limited to an 8-hour workday. In fact, the job consists of a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year commitment. Phew! Ironically, even though birds eventually leave the nest, the mental and emotional task of humankind mothering never reaches completion. “Once a mother, always a mother.”

Motherhood brings with it the element of extremes. A mother can go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows without warning. From pure joy, exultation, happiness, and pride to frustration, disappointment, and the certain sense of failure in a heartbeat–regardless of the age of one’s child.

If you want a life colored with angst, filled with lack of self-confidence and the loss of personal identity, all while turning gray, become a mother. At the same time, if you want to be filled to overflowing with wonder (ranging from “I wonder what he’s up to now” . . . to “How did she become such a beautiful woman?”), hugs, laughter, love, and sticky fingers–become a mother.

While being a mother is a huge responsibility–after all, we carry the life of another human being in our hands–it is also one of the greatest honors given to a woman by God. It is mind-boggling to think that He entrusts a group of people who are often ruled by hormones with the future of humankind. 🙂

I am fully aware that not all women are able to be mothers–or want to be. “Mothering” is not limited to those with physical children. The world is filled with people of all ages who need a woman’s touch–the insight, love, voice of experience, compassion, care, and concern only a female can provide. Mentor. Reach out. Be that aunt, neighbor, teacher, friend, and person who nurtures our future.

Whether you feel completely overwhelmed at times, you’re certain you are way out of your league, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt you are destroying your child and his/her future . . . being a mother makes a difference in this world. We might not be flashy, but we matter. And if you want to make a difference for all eternity, be a Godly mother.

Happy Mother’s Day