Week 4 of Making This World a Better Place

The Bible is full of directives to care for widowed mothers especially because there was no such thing as insurance. Women didn't have jobs like today and they depended upon their husbands to provide and protect them. But it isn't only financial support that single mothers of any age need today.

Since Sunday, May 12 is Mother's Day, it makes sense this week to direct our efforts toward mothers. We all know single women who are mothers − some may be young with children still at home, and others may reside in nursing facilities with family far away.  Or, we may know a woman whom we just really respect and admire.

We know to make this world a better place, it might begin with doing something positive or special for one person at a time, and that is okay. We might never realize how much our single kindness may actually impact countless others. So the assignment this week is to choose a mother (in addition to or other than your own), and a) send a card; b) buy an extra mother's day gift for this person; c) take time to visit with your chosen person; or d) write a letter of appreciation to that someone and mail it.

If your focus is on a struggling young mother, could she use a little extra time to herself or pampering? Perhaps that means inviting the children to your home to bake cookies, plant flowers, etc. You could also offer some little gift of pampering like special shower gel or lotion.

For an elderly person, a visit would definitely be a plus, but any acknowledgment with a card, letter, or small gift would also be appreciated. Just a note: the statistics for elderly suicide, of those 85 and older, was 20.1%, the second highest among all age groups (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). Isolation and loneliness account for a large part of the reason, so Mother's Day is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference for someone who may be at risk.


Now, for a few things in my journal to make this world a better place last week: I kept an eye on my neighbor's townhouse while she attended her grandfather's funeral out of state; I called to check on someone who had been hospitalized; and a friend needed a stamp and asked if I had one she could purchase. Of course, I just gave it to her.

And, to end this week's blog, a sincere Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms who are making this world a better place!