When God Created Mothers

[Petrushka]

Instead of a Bible reading at my late mother's funeral service a week tomorrow we have decided to have this from Erma Bombek (my brother's choice) and would like to offer it here to all those who have loved and lost their own mother.


“When God Created Mothers"

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

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run 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 disappointed 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 me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

"One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

"God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

"I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

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

"But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

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

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

"It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

"What's it for?"

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

"You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”

Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

[Flosshilde]

Thank you, Petrushka. It's too late for my own mother's funeral, which was in April, but sums her up wonderfully. It's such a difficult time - I do hope you get through it.

[salymap]

Thanks Pet and Flossie, also sympathy'

Istill miss my mother sometimes and she died in the 1970s

[Mary Chambers]

Thank you, Petrushka, and sympathies.

Like saly, I still miss my mother, who died in the 1990s, five days before her 90th birthday. She used to say that she still missed her mother. Of course, I didn't really understand what she was talking about, until I was in the same situation.

[greenilex]

It's the "runs on black coffee and leftovers" that worries grandma. Not good for lactation or anything else - although of course it depends on the leftovers.

[pastoralguy]

Thank you for sharing that, Petrushka.