The Mother’s Day Declaration: Finding the Right Kind of Mother
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Posted On :
May-08-2009
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Article Word Count :
756
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Examine the attributes of a good mother for Mother’s Day.
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The minister stands over the grave of Annie B. Johns, a 45 year-old mother with three daughters. As the minister conducts this solemn ceremony, the daughters curse and mock their mother. The crowd stands in awe as the children disrespect the memory of their mother. One of the small grand children proclaims, “Grandma wasn’t the right type of woman.” The people ponder the child’s message.
Introduction
During my years in elementary school, it was important to keep your cool as a young boy in my neighborhood. Yet, it was awfully difficult when guys would start playing the dozen. Playing the dozen consisted of a barrage of jokes about one’s mother pitting two boys against each other. The battle existed in a classic gladiator’s arena where a crowd would cheer on the competitors. As the jokes got more cutting, it would more often end in a fight where you might hear, “Man, you can’t talk about my momma.” This horseplay underlined a major theme about one’s mother: “No matter how unfit or imperfect your mother may be, she was still your mother.” Your mother might have been a bad cook. She might have been a drug abuser. She might have been a terrible person. However, her imperfection was not open to public display.
Clearly, some mothers are better than others. Therefore, character does count. There is an ancient story about two women who went before King Solomon to determine the true mother. These women were not perfect because they operated as prostitutes. Yet, they stood before the king’s court as mothers. In a startling act, King Solomon ordered that the child be cut in half and given to each woman. One woman said, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" The other woman argued, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" King Solomon quickly decided that the woman with the most compassion for the child was the real mother. Unfortunately, many people get caught up in the Hollywood fashion of what a mother should be. This article explores the formation of a 21st century motherhood model in contemporary society.
The Ideal Model
According to the US Census in 2008, there are over 82 million mothers in America. Eighty percent of them are between the ages of 40 to 44. Many mothers go about their business with little regard for their impact on society. As a matter of fact, the value of a good mother is often forgotten, except for the customary card on Mother’s Day. Yet, I am puzzled about how some women conduct themselves in the name of womanhood. For example, Susie Smith became the poster child for a bad mother. She had appeared on national television proclaiming that her two children had been kidnapped. In reality, Smith had driven her car into a lake, drowning her children. She had done this act in pursuit of her own adulterous relationship.
What makes an unfit mother? The legal definition may vary from state to state. However, an unfit mother may be defined as a mother who fails to take care of a child’s basic needs related to the physical, mental, and spiritual state of a child. Many individuals would point to an abusive or neglecting mother. Yet, there are so many famous women who are esteemed as the modern day feminist model, but these women often do not represent the ideal mother figure.
Conclusion
Today, many people take a good mother model for granted. However, I think this is a critical mistake. True mothers like true fathers put their families’ needs ahead of their own. Of course, this selfless image runs counter to “ME” only culture. King Lemuel must have realized this fact when he outlined his motherhood model in Proverbs 31. The mother described in this passage is a loving wife, kindhearted mother, a champion of the oppressed, a business woman, a godly figure, and an insightful advisor. The author notes about this woman, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’” Likewise, when there is a mother of unique character in society, she should be celebrated and cherished. In the daily grind of living, many folks lose sight of the positive influence of the right kind of mother. A good mother creates a legacy for future generations. Let’s hope that the positive model will never be forgotten.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Mother’s Day Declaration: Finding the Right Kind of Mother _658.aspx
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Author Resource :
Dr. Daryl D. Green writes on contemporary issues impacting businesses, society, and across the globe. With over 18 years of management experience, Dr. Green’s expertise has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to http://stores.lulu.com/darygre or http://www.darylgreen.org
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Keywords :
daryl, green, estraletta, pmla, motivational speaker,
Category :
Society
:
Relationships
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