Are you proud of me now?

We all know that motherhood includes an almost endless list of chores.  But the real substance happens in between washing dishes and folding clothes.  A mother is there when the child needs a listening ear, a comforting word, a stern glance, a reassuring hug, or heartfelt prayer.

At least we hope she is.

The mother of entertainer Barbra Streisand passed away several years ago.  Their relationship had long been strained.  When Barbra had her big comeback concert at Madison Square Garden, her mother was eighty-five years old.  Barbra greeted her mother in the second row and asked, “Are you proud of me now, Mama?”

Some of you can probably relate to their strife firsthand.  Like Barbra Streisand, you are still waiting and wishing for a blessing from your mom.  Some word of affirmation.  Any word.

Make the choice.  Break the cycle.  Don’t withhold that gift from your children.  We can live in the past, or we can learn from the past.  There’s no wisdom in repeating the sins of previous generations.

The year I turned sixteen was an awkward time in my life.  I grew seven inches in twelve months, and despite my dad’s attempts to save money and put off buying me new pants, I didn’t believe him when he told me that knickers were coming back in style.

Like most sixteen-year-olds, I struggled with my self-image.  I don’t know what possessed me, but I decided to run for senior class president of my school.  My mom realized that this campaign was a vulnerable risk for a kid to take.

The day of the election, I came home to find an enormous sign on the front door of the house.  It said, “Win or lose- we love you!”

With those simple words, my mother communicated an important message to an awkward adolescent: Regardless of what others may think of you, within these four walls you will always be a winner.  As a result, I didn’t have to go through life wondering to myself, Are you proud of me now, Mama?

And yes, I won.  But the outcome didn’t matter half as much as knowing I was loved unconditionally.  Whether I won or lost, my mom would always choose me.

Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord