Proverbs 15-17 says about the wife of noble character: She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
Every year, on Mother’s Day, we pay homage to the women who have indelibly marked our lives. I can honestly say that both my mother and my wife have expertly molded me into who I am today and I’ll quickly admit, I’m all the better for it!
I’m always in awe of both of them.
My mother, although she would humbly claim otherwise, is the mover and shaker in our family. No one I know matches her energy and genuine desire to be of service to others. No one I know has her ability for bright optimism paired with a quickness of smile, even in the face of challenges and adversity. I love her dearly for these qualities and more.
My wife, like my mother, is also the backbone–not only in our family, but also in our businesses. As the CFO of our companies, I watch her day-after-day unravel each facet of our businesses to uncover and fix any potential challenges, and then bit-by-bit sew them back together better than they were before. She analyzes the numbers, tweaks the components, and thereby improves the outcomes.
On top of this feat, she shuttles our kids from one activity to another, helps them with their homework, prays with them at night, and gets up early to do her devotionals, make their breakfasts, and then prepare their lunches for school.
And if that wasn’t enough, when she’s not playing taxi, she comes home from work, drops her computer bag and purse on the porch, flicks off her heels and settles herself (work clothes and all) into the peaceful dirt of her garden.
Jaclyn’s garden is simply a metaphor of what she loves in life–to plant seeds and nurture and watch their growth. She does it in her relationship with God, she does it in her partnership with me, and she does it as an amazing mother to our three children. She focuses on growth and her influence is truly seen in the fruits of her labor.
So, it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have these two women in my life today and every day.
Happy Mother’s Day to them and Happy Mother’s Day to all you amazing women out there who are influencing and changing the world for the better. Thank you.
