Today we honor Mom's.  There is so so much wrapped up in the short title of Mom. 

 

I was thinking that if I had to write April's job description, it may go something like this....

 

POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mama

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team player needed, for challenging permanent work, in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required – including, now that we're in Colorado, trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless gatherings sometimes in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties are also required; frequently, on very short notice.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 or their nose wiped or they want to go outside or come out of their room. Must be willing to bite your tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 in three seconds flat -- in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls and texts, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best, but be prepared, and ensure all others are also prepared, for the worst. Must assume final complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

 

Responsibilities also include, floor maintenance, janitorial work throughout the facility, and endless laundering of clothes.  Must be medically advanced in order to handle bruised knees and elbows and the occasional drill bit through the hand.  Successful candidates will also be psychologically advanced in that they must be able to actively cater to several young and very needy adolescents and one middle aged and more needy adolescent (especially when that one is sick).

Coupon clipping is a plus but not required (I hate coupons), however several trips to the grocery store each week, most certainly are required.

 

Some of our other employees do not yet use the toilet therefore multiple, multiple cleanings are required each day while the client or employees hates you for it. 

 

World class cooking is a plus however will train if necessary.  Training includes distorted faces during bites, tears, and fights at the dinner table.  We already have an employee who grills but as soon as you start, he plans to stop....so that'll be you too. 

 

Responsibilities also include interior design.  Must be able to push through nay sayers in order to bring facility up to code.

 

Finally, successful candidates will be expected to dress professionally almost never.  Any budget saved from optional couponing may be applied to clothing procurements however despite budget, candidate is expected to look smokin' hot every day and especially every night.  Make-up is a plus and perfume is preferred however again, couponing is the key.

 

We are not an EEO and the candidate will be expected to be a personal escort to frequent outings and while clients are visiting.  Dumb, repetitive jokes must always be laughed at and ego boosting of fellow employees is a must. 

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay us! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when the kids turn 18, because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it, and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: No health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered -- however, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life.

 

In summary, we are actively seeking a professional and diligent:

 

Secretary

Organizer

Personal Assistant

Coach

EMT

Travel Coordinator

Courier

Driver

Handyman (or in this case woman)

Plumber

Tailor

Toy assembler

Event Planner

Janitor

Chef

Nurse

Dental Hygienist

Motivational Speaker

Interior Decorator

Landscaper

Psychologist

Personal Escort

 

Do you realize that if mom wanted to work out of the home doing these same tasks and duties that she would be making at least $900k per year and that is on the low side!!

 

Milton Berle once said, “if evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?”

 

Oh yeah, today we honor mom.  I often say that April has the hard job...shoot I get to go to work every day...do you see why?  I go everyday and make just enough to pay the bills while she manages our life!!!  Oh yeah moms...it’s a day to honor you for what you do...

 

A mom is a special person.  A mom is a person who is willing to take the responsibility of investing her life into another human being who is totally dependent upon her to do so...

 

But how do they not burn out?  I mean day after day after day of all this work!  Little recognition, high demands...it’s just seems like a recipe for burnout... 

 

The overwhelming majority completes all the duties of their $900k per year jobs day in and day out even while humming a comforting tune, gracefully moving with endless energy from one task to the next....

 

Why is it that mom is the way she is?  How is it that she can keep up with all the bumps, bruises, meals, plans, all these things that I need, that my kids need so desperately....

Turn over to 1 Kings chapter 3.  Verse  16 – 27.

 

Mom loves to the point of being able to release her own life, to saves the life of her little one.  Mom lives out selfless fervent love for her babies without a shadow of turning.  You see, in a way, she is almost unable to turn away from her little one...her wiring (fearfully and wonderfully made) her God crafted wiring doesn't allow for it...

 

A middle-eastern philosopher named Rajneesh once said....The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new.

 

I think this is profoundly true.  I remember before Aliza was born and I could see in talking to Cody and Tiana  so many things, so many things that they were about to learn, how they were about to change....

 

I would often tell Cody, man you have something in you that is dormant but as soon as that little girl comes into this world and you look into her little face and hold her..and realize, every breath, every day depends on you...brother your purpose is gonna go to a whole new level and God has made your heart in such a way to wonderfully react in that moment...

 

You know it is the same for us as mortals.  We were made to know God but we're born into sin, separated by our legacy given to us by our father Adam.  But that moment when we come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ...the bible says, all things are made new and we realize in an exhale moment...I was made for this...April says believing is seeing and she is absolutely right.  I can't tell you how wonderful and amazing your heart is changed and your world is made new when you have a little one...you simply have to see for yourself. 

 

Mom's are super heroes.  They have super powers because God has made them in such a way to rise to the challenge if you will...oh but how essential is a strong walk with Him...to stay bright, to stay lit...mom's you need to stay close to the Source...

 

There is a light bulb called the Centennial light bulb.  It hangs in a firehouse in California and it has burned for more than 109 years...and to this day, it’s still lit.  If you look it up you will read how it’s not particularly made very differently than other bulbs but one thing that does set it apart is that in the past 109 years, it’s only been turned off one or two times.  You see, its burned constantly....

 

Scientists accredit its long life to the primitive way that it was made and the fact that it has hardly ever been turned off. 

This little bulb's light never stops shinning and therefore it has not burned out.

 

Mom, is always on.  A mother's love is always in the “on” position.  Moms are a great example for us as Christians. 

 

You see, mom's duties, mom's care, mom's continual, never-ending and often thankless task filled lives...are able to be carried out, without burnout...oh you get tired, you need rest and away time sometimes, but without burnout...why...because that little bulb stays burning!

 

You see, a pattern of off/on will always lead to burnout.  And the devil knows (I love what Pastor Ed says), if he can't destroy you, he'll distract you. 

 

What good is a burnt-out light bulb? 

 

We have a tendency to hit that switch in our lives and one minute we're on fire for God and the next we're walking after the lusts of our flesh.

 

Man, junk the switch.  Whatever it is, get rid of it...dump it...Paul said when I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things....

 

Just like these mothers standing in front of Solomon, when it comes to either death of the precious one (the baby in the story, but maybe your marriage, maybe your faith, maybe even your own child) you gladly, swiftly and even desperately choose death...you call out for it in hopes of saving your faith, saving your marriage, saving your relationship...honoring your God who has saved you....

 

Mother's, such a blessing...practically in our everyday lives...but also such a blessing spiritually in that God has shown us the power and ability in simply leaving that switch on...wiring up so that a switch even is not there...

 

Moms aren't perfect.  These two women in 1 Kings were prostitutes the bible tells us and even as we read Proverbs 31 (the virtuous woman proverb) we must remember who Solomon's mom was...none other than Bathsheba. 

 

No, moms aren't perfect but April is perfect for Link, perfect for Brantley, perfect for Madison....perfect for me....

 

And you and I, we're not perfect but man Jesus on His cross would say to us...you're perfect for me...

 

 

 

If you're burnt out today Christian, the Lord would have me to tell you come........

 

come and buy wine and milk without money....

 

We serve a God who is long-suffering who loves us with perfect, heavenly, fatherly, eternal love.  And as we look at just everything that Mother's do, their constancy, their fervency, their effectiveness, my heart cries out for those qualities in my walk with the Lord.

 

 The bible talks about “little foxes” that creep into the vineyard and steal the grapes, steal the fruit.  Lets drive out those foxes in the power of the Holy Spirit...do business with the Lord this morning, He's here and His only desire is for you to simply come....

 

Mothers, thank you so much...for all you do...and thank you so so much for your example.  May god richly bless you.  You so richly bless us.