A Mother’s Investment Plan
The
wife of noble character in Proverbs 31 knew a great deal about investing. She
purchased a field and with her earnings she planted a vineyard. She also had a
home business making belts for the tradesmen. But I think one of her most
notable characteristics was her investment in her children who rose up and
called her “blessed.” This is not an accolade
that is earned overnight, but only after daily deposits into the hearts, souls
and minds of children.
When I became a mother, I wondered what exactly this woman did to cause her
children to bless her. To find some answers, I’ve observed mothers through the
years, listen to what grown children have to say about their mothers and prayed
that God would give me wisdom in raising my own child. Amazingly, I have seen
seven key ways to invest in the lives of children that promise great dividends.
The seven elements fit the acronym of BLESSED. She’s a beacon who is an
available, a listener who tunes in with all the honing devises God provides, an
encourager who instills courage and confidence, a self-esteem builder who lays a
foundation of unconditional love, a seed-sower who sows seeds of scripture and
prayer, an example setter who understands her children will imitate her actions
and she’s
diligent - she doesn’t give up, she doesn’t give in, and she gives her children
to the Lord.
That sounds like a pretty tall order, but no one ever said motherhood was easy.
If it was, I don’t think it would start with something called labor! And what is
the value of such a mother who initiates such an investment plan? Her worth is
far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10). I read a book review last week in which the
author lamented that she lost between $600,000 and $700,000 in possible income
and pensions during the years when she stayed out of work to raise her son. She
goes on to say, “I sacrificed more than half of my expected lifetime earnings.”
But can you put a price on motherhood? Can you reduce the rewards and
losses to dollars and cents? I think not. Tim Kimmel once said, “You can’t leave
character in a trust account. You cannot write your values into the will. You
cannot bank traits like courage, honesty, and compassion in a safe deposit box.
What we need is a plan – a long-term strategy to convey our convictions to the
next generation.”
At the Proverbs 31 Ministry, we do have a plan. Our third principle states, The
Proverbs 31 woman believes that motherhood is a high calling with the
responsibility of shaping and molding the children that will one day define who
we are as a community and a nation. Being that kind of mom reminds me of the
story of a world-famous violinist. An admiring fan ran
up to him one day and cried, “Mr. Krieisler, I’d give my life to play as you
do!” To that he replied, “Madam, I did.” Some people treat being a mother like
playing a slot machine, putting in as little as possible and hoping to hit the
jackpot. But being a mother is a diligent investment of sacrifices that reaps
dividends with compounded interest over time!
President Theodore Roosevelt said it well. “No other success in life – not being
President, or being wealthy, or going to college, or writing a book, or anything
else-come up to the success of the man or woman who can feel that they have done
their duty and that their children and grandchildren rise up and call them
blessed.
