No Substitute for a Good Mother

Wow! That was all I could think the first time I saw it in print. It was on a poster sent to us from The Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston. The poster read: There is no substitute for a Good Mother.

The poster and the accompanying special gift envelopes were attempting to raise money for our truly remarkable ministry with children and teenagers (which has now expanded tremendously with three homes and several ministry centers across Louisiana), but the truth is abundantly clear: Even an exemplary ministry like Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services (as it is now called) is “no substitute for a good mother.”

That realization became particularly poignant for me earlier this week. I received an e-mail recommending a particularly delightful gift opportunity for Mother’s Day. I followed the link immediately, thinking this would be an excellent gift for my mother. Then it hit me: For the first time in many years I will not be buying a gift for my mother, who died on December 30, 2010.

But perhaps I can share a gift that she would particularly savor. My family’s links to our Children’s Home are long-standing:

A dear family friend (in truth, more like “family” than “friend”) is the daughter of one of the former directors of the Home. We first met Rev. White and became aware of the Home during the early 1960s.

Shortly after that, my parents decided to welcome a foster child into our home. A few years later, when a judge determined that he needed more intensive care than could be provided in an “open, trusting family setting”, we were able to secure a placement for him in The Home. What a blessing it proved to be for us and for Perry! What a challenge for The Home! – but they persevered.

Further, as a pastor I have been able to entrust three troubled children/parishioners to the love and guidance of our Home. “There is no substitute for a good mother”, but the Home has been determined to be a faithful witness and servant in good times and troubled times for these youth who were unable to prosper in their home settings. In recent years, I have been able to call on The Home’s regional counselors to help with families and individuals in their “at-home” settings.

I will be making a special gift to our Children’s Home on Sunday – Mother’s Day -- in celebration of my mother’s life and remembering her love and appreciation for all that the Home has meant to our family. Even though there is “no substitute for a good mother”, I hope you will join me in offering your support for this vital ministry with children and families.