DO WELL-ADJUSTED KIDS JUST HAPPEN?

As a mom, you've probably given deeply of yourself to your children — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. On hard days, you may sometimes wonder if it's all worth it, whether what you do day in and day out really matters in your child's life.

I'm here to tell you that everything you do as a mom is definitely worth it. And your role as a mother does matter — immensely!

Consider this Facebook post I came upon that took my breath away. I hope this post will motivate you to never give up and to realize that your behind-the-scenes work as a mother changes many lives for the good.

There once was a young boy who had potential, but he did not know it. However ... the boy had a mother, who was always active and on alert. Her work would soon help him see the potential he possessed. It seemed as though she never slept. She was always awake when he awoke and worked hard far after he fell asleep.

Every time the boy's heart hurt, his mother was there to fill him with comfort and confidence. Every time there was danger, she scared off his aggressors. Every time the boy was sick, she cared for him. Every time he had the flu and vomited, she was right there rubbing his back, telling him it would soon pass.

Every night, and through the day, she would sing with him and taught him to be joyful despite life's circumstances. She constantly made him food, washed his clothes, cleaned up his messes, and navigated his dangerous and adventurous world to keep him safe. She not only tolerated his constant noise and activity that annoyed everyone else, but she also loved it.

He could tell she loved him. She put her life and desires on hold for his. With each act of love, even those the boy didn't understand at his young age, it strengthened his young heart and gave him courage and peace that would last a lifetime. When the boy became a man, he realized that his mother's tireless, selfless acts were responsible for everything he had, and all that he knew, every outlook he had, and the fun he always encountered.

When life became difficult for the young man as he grew, he knew he could not only make it through it but he could also come out on top, with joy and having learned something, because he remembered his mom's commitment as she tackled countless unknown obstacles for him. When the boy's obstacles came, he could hear a voice whispering encouragement, and he could feel his mom's hands on his back. He knew the difficult times would pass, and he would sing songs of God's providence that his mom taught him, as he rolled up his sleeves to be like her.

Mom, thank you. Linda Weber, there is no one like you. I do not deserve your love. But I am so grateful for it. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for giving up your life to make mine. I love you, Mom!

That Facebook post was written by my son Ryan, and it blew me away! What he wrote so graciously shows the difference we moms make in our children's lives. I hope this post will help you feel the power of your hard work, moms. You do make an impact.

I know that a lot is expected of moms today. I want to say things were better for my mother. I suppose they were in a way. Being a mom was considered a full-time effort back then. No one chided, "Lean in to your career. Get out in the world and make a difference." She was never challenged to opt for a different focus. In her generation, if you were a mom, that's just who you were, first and foremost. Anything else was extra and secondary, even though she did have to work to keep us alive.

On the other hand, things were a lot harder for Mom. She had three children to raise and an angry, abusive husband to contend with. Eventually, my father abandoned us, which tells that story very mildly. He should have been in jail. This type of home situation could have caused many children to have major life problems. Instead, my siblings and I are a redemption story, praise God! (And you can be a redemption story too, if your circumstances weren't good.)

The responsibility of providing for the family always fell on Mom's shoulders. If we were going to eat, she had to work. And back in the 1960s, the job market for women was limited, both in choices and in pay. As I recall, she never made more than 200 dollars a month.

We lived in an apple orchard in a small structure built to house migrant workers. A couch sat against one wall of our tiny living room, and an old family upright piano covered the opposite wall. If I stood in the center of the room, I could reach out and touch both pieces at the same time.

Cold floors. No carpet. An oil stove for heat. The rent was 25 dollars a month. We used spare apple boxes for cupboards and dressers and covered them with old tea towels. We were allowed to collect the fallen apples and add to them the wild asparagus that grew here and there among the trees.

When the school year began, if we kids were lucky, we'd get to choose one pair of shoes to last us the year. Most of our clothes were hand-me-downs from other families, and they were limited. Occasionally, our grandmother would buy Easter dresses for my sister and me. When I got to high school, a friend's mother made clothes for me so I could look like everyone else.

What Mom lacked in wealth, however, she made up for in character. She was a devout Christian woman with a steady, thankful heart. She loved her God and read the Bible morning and night. She never did anything she feared was wrong, not even reusing a postage stamp that had been missed by the cancellation stamp. She trusted that God could handle anything we had to face, and she told us time and again, "God knows our need. He loves us. He'll provide."

The list of God's character traits, which she kept telling us about, was long. And those facts stay in our minds today: God will never leave us (He is always with us). God never makes mistakes. God is good because His way is perfect. God has the power to do all things. God never changes. God always keeps His promises. God is fair and will judge the wrong. He dispels confusion.

We knew we had this big enough God, so we could trust and follow Him with everything. We could do anything, and we didn't have to fear. As a result of Mom's strong faith in God, and since her God was our God, we were not reduced to becoming insecure people. What a gift. Because...