I hope my sister doesn't mind ( I will check with her before I post this) but I need to vent about an experience she shared with me yesterday. I will spare many of the details, but her experience was something to this effect: Yesterday my sister attempted the impossible... Costco with five kids. Her youngest is just 3 months old and cries in his car seat, so moms you can just imagine what a crazy venture that can be. My sister has a spirited three year old and at one point she wandered away, still within just a few feet from my sister. When my sister went to retrieve her little girl she was approached by a couple who apparently had a few things they needed to get off their chest. Here were some of their words, " The bible says children should be seen and not heard... You should have stopped at one child... You are disgusting... My two children would have never made noise..." My sister said that at one point the man was three inches from her face, as he hurled insults at her. You can imagine how this made her feel. I was proud of how she handled it, but when she finally let herself tear up about the encounter, she wondered how someone could express seemingly pure hatred toward herself and her children. After all, we live in a world that is cankered with numberless evils and atrocities so how does someone use the word disgusting when referring to a young mother and her children? Needless to say, I am very sad that my sister had to have this experience...But I am even more sad at the very personal and tangible attack that is being placed on the family and more specifically mothers. One has to wonder why the adversary has such a personal vendetta against motherhood? If the world is constantly undermining the significance and importance of motherhood, why is Satan fighting so darn hard against us?
Innately, of course I know the answers to these questions. Mothers are more significant and important than most truly understand. I recently read an article by a mother who quoted an on old saying I haven't heard in a while, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" William Ross Wallace (1819-1881) I think the significance of this statement needs to seep deep within all of us. Think of what our world would be if every nation's leader, every politician, every teacher, every cranky DMV worker (no offense) would be like if they were all raised by upstanding mothers. Where would we be if each and every mother bought in to Satan's lies and quit mothering because she decided that she was insignificant and unimportant? Russell M. Nelson said, “Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.” I am so grateful that we have Prophets and leaders in our church who fight for mothers and the family. I find great hope, when like an old transistor radio, I tune into their voices amidst the static that is in the world around us. A quote I love is by David O. McKay which says:
“[The] ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness … to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, … deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God” (Gospel Ideals [1954], 453–54).
Similarly, I love the thought by James R. Clark who said, “Motherhood …is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”
I know that often times these words sound great in theory, but sometimes it's hard to feel like your service is next to angels when you can't remember that last time you had a solid night sleep, or when you feel like your abilities as a mother are being scrutinized, or when you feel like you've literally spent an entire day just cleaning up messes (it's hard to picture angles scrubbing crayon off of the walls.) Despite these hardships, I have found that sometimes just a quick prayer and some mind over matter, helps me keep perspective in all that is required of me as a mother. When I turn to a loving Heavenly Father with the desire to know if my work matters, the voice of heaven is loud and clear: Yes! The work of a mother matters. A lot! Sheri Dew has said that, "No woman who understands the gospel would ever think that any other work is more important or would ever say, “I am just a mother,” for mothers heal the souls of men.” When I teach my daughter to tell the truth I am shaping an outstanding human being. When I teach my son to be kind to others; I am forming the ingredients of a better society. When my husband and I call our children to family prayer-we are literally calling upon a power that can change the world.
So to you, Mr and Mrs Costco couple...whomever you are, you are free to spend your days feeling disgust for large and thriving families or hurling insults at young mothers who are doing the best they can; but you will not win. Your words only make us want to fight harder. You may live by the principle that, "kids should be seen and not heard" but mothers live by the principle that we are, "healing the souls of men!" We have the hands that rule the world!
Jenna, my sister, I love you. Don't let unkind words slow down your purpose..I believe in mothers!
