The Sacredness of a Mother’s Work: A Tribute to Mothers on Mother’s Day
By Garfield Joseph, MBA
Introduction
A woman holds a child on her breast, feeling the quiet rhythm of its heartbeat against her own. In that moment, she is more than just a mother—she is a protector, a guide, a foundation upon which a life will be built. She dreams of who her child will become, of the joys they will know, the lessons they will learn, the future they will create. Yet, she understands that while she may nurture, shape, and influence, she cannot dictate their destiny.
The Lebanese writer and poet, Khalil Gibran, captures these sentiments in his timeless poem:
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
Gibran’s words remind us of the bittersweet truth—that children come through their mothers but do not belong to them. They are like arrows sent forth, shaped but not controlled, guided but not owned.
Yet, this reality does not diminish the sacred work of a mother. Instead, it magnifies her labor, making her role even more profound. Let us now explore some key principles of a mother’s work.
A Mother’s Work is the Greatest Influence on Earth
Of all the forces that shape society, a mother’s influence surpasses them all. Politicians govern, educators instruct, leaders inspire—but a mother nurtures the very core of humanity.
One famous writer once wrote, “The influence of a mother in the home is greater than any other influence on earth.” It is the mother who whispers words of encouragement, wipes away tears, and teaches lessons that determine the kind of adults her children will become. No success or honor in the world surpasses the power of a mother’s touch on a child’s soul.
A Mother’s Work is Sacrificial
A mother’s love demands everything yet asks for nothing. She gives her nights to restless infants, her energy to growing children, and her years to the endless needs of her family.
She sacrifices sleep, dreams, and comforts so that her children never feel the absence of love. She goes without so they can have, bears burdens so they can thrive. And though the world may not see these sacrifices, they are the quiet pillars upon which generations are built.
A Mother’s Work Must Be Bathed in Prayer
There are days when a mother’s strength fails, when weariness weighs heavy upon her soul. In those moments, she turns to prayer.
She prays over her children—for their safety, wisdom, and hearts. She prays when they are young, asking for guidance in raising them. She prays when they grow, hoping they will make the right choices. She prays even when they stray, trusting that they will find their way back.
Her prayers do not end when they leave home. They remain, like whispers carried by the wind, echoing in their lives long after she is gone.
A Mother’s Work Never Ends
Though a mother may one day rest, her work continues through the lives she has touched. Her teachings, her love, her sacrifices—they are woven into the fabric of her children’s existence.
Yet, amidst the routines of daily life, a mother may not always recognize the profound impact of her labor. The endless meals she prepares, the comforting words she speaks, the quiet sacrifices she makes—these may seem ordinary, even unnoticed. But in truth, they are the foundation upon which the future is built.
A mother does not simply nurture a child; she shapes the ideals, resilience, and character that will influence generations.
A Mother’s Most Important Work: Teaching Children to Resist Evil
Success in the world means nothing if a child is lost to it. A mother’s greatest responsibility is not merely to raise educated, accomplished individuals but to instill in them the strength to resist corruption, deception, and evil.
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” — Khalil Gibran
She strengthens them for life—not just with knowledge, but with wisdom. She prepares them—not just for careers, but for character. She teaches them—not just how to achieve, but how to discern right from wrong.
The world will tempt them with riches, power, and prestige. But what shall it profit a man if he gains the world, yet loses his soul?
A Final Reflection: A Mother’s Love Lives On
As I write these words, I know that I cannot celebrate Mother’s Day with my own mother, for she passed away in 2019 after a labor of love for her nine children—almost entirely on her own. She bore the weight of responsibility, the trials of life, and the sacrifices that often went unnoticed. Yet, she never wavered in love, never relented in prayer, never ceased believing in the future of her children.
Though she is no longer here, I know that her prayers live on. They are carried in the lives she shaped, in the lessons she taught, in the love she left behind.
Her sacrifices were not in vain, and her influence did not fade with time. Even now, her presence lingers—not in the things she owned, but in the values she instilled, the faith she nurtured, and the unyielding love that continues to guide us.
This is the sacred work of a mother. It is love that transcends time, shaping not only children but generations to come.
Today, we cherish our mothers, honor their work, and will never take their love for granted.
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