And God Created Mothers (Mothers Day - 26th March 2006)

When the good Lord was creating mothers he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one Lord".

The Creator replied, "Have you read the specification on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; have 180 moveable parts - all replaceable; survive on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that disappears when she stands up; a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointing love affair, and six pairs of hands".

The angel shook her head slowly and said "Six pairs of hands? No way!".

"It's not the hands that are causing the problems" said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have".

"Is that on the standard model?" queried the angel.

The Lord nodded, "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, `What are you doing in there?' when she knows already. Another pair in the back of her head, that sees what she is not meant to, but what she needs to know; and of course, the ones in front that can look at a child when he gets himself into trouble and say `I understand and I love you' without a word said out loud".
"Lord" said the angel, plucking his sleeve gently, "go to bed, tomorrow is another day".

"I can't" said the Lord, "I'm so close now. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, can feed a family of six on a pound of mince, and can get a five-year old to have a bath".

The angel inspected the model of the mother very slowly, "It's too soft" she sighed.

"But tough" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure".

"Can it think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think but it can reason and compromise" said the Creator.

Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "It's leaking" she pronounced looking at her wet finger.

"It's not a leak" said the Lord, "it's a tear". "What's that for?" said the angel

"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride".

"You're a genius", said the angel.

The Lord looked sombre...."I didn't put the tear there" he replied softly.

This Article was first published in the Spring 2006 edition of Ramsden Bellhouse Baptist Church Review