When my mother-in-law died in 2003, I got a book back that my husband and I had given her in 2000. It was “Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul”. I only remember the year we gifted it because she wrote the date inside of the book. I know that she appreciated it and read it from cover to cover.

I decided I would read it again this year. I had read it before, but as things go you forget some of the stories.

I found a quote written by Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham’s wife. She wrote, “As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible.”

I have been a granddaughter, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. That gives me a unique perspective.

One year my grandmother was sick I think with the ulcer she had on her leg so she sent grandpa with me to pick out a gift for my mother. I was quite young at the time. When he took me to the store I wanted to buy my mother some new underwear. He was not about to tackle that job so he suggested we look in another store. That time I found a small toothbrush for mom. He could not say no to that so that is what I gave mom. She never used it but kept it until she died as a reminder of what a little girl would pick out for her mom. I only know this story because grandpa shared it when we returned home.

All of this reminded me of a story from the Bible. I will paraphrase it, hopefully shortening it a bit. Solomon walked in on two women who were fighting.

They lived in the same house and had both recently given birth to sons. One night when they went to sleep one of the babies died beside his mother. His mother got up and put her baby beside the other mother. She took the one that was alive to her bed.

In the morning the mother discovered the dead baby. When she looked at it, she knew that was not her little boy. They began to argue. That was when Solomon walked in. He asked about the fight and was told by each of them that the baby that was alive belonged to them. They each claimed him.

With that he asked his servant to fetch him a sword. When the servant returned with the sword, he said he would split the baby in two and give each half since they could not agree.

The real mother told him not to kill the baby. She said to give it to the other mother. Solomon thought for a while, then told his servant to give the baby to the first mother because it was her baby. The one who would not allow the baby to die was the mother.

What a wise man Solomon was! He determined the truth with his method. I do not propose to be as wise as Solomon, but often in my classroom the Lord gave me the answer just as Solomon received it. I learned to listen. This Bible story so impressed me that I have always remembered it.

Mothers are our children’s first teachers. There is no manual or book of instructions that come with a baby. At least I had the experience of babysitting. I knew how to change a diaper. I knew how to feed a baby. I knew how to rock it to sleep. I reacted by gut instinct. I did the best I could and left the rest to God.

The greatest achievements I have are my two children. When your children are grown and they do alright that makes you happy. Then, when they present you with grandchildren the process begins again.

Wishing the mothers out there a happy and blessed day. May your children honor you. May they take time to call or visit you on your special day.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.