May 3, 2011
Mother: The Keeper of the Springs
Some fifty years ago Dr. Peter Marshall, former chaplain to the U.S. Senate, told a story of a small town nestled at the foot of a mountain range which was known far and wide for it wonderful pure spring water. People came from all around to enjoy its delicious taste and to thank the well known “keeper of the springs” who dedicated his life to keeping the mountain springs clear and clean. For years he preformed this selfless service for the benefit of all who enjoyed the water from the springs.
In time a well intentioned town council decided to relieve the man of his duties. They reasoned that his methods of cleaning were outdated and that they could be better accomplished through programs and procedures carefully watched over by agencies under their jurisdiction. The man sadly gave up his labor of love and turned over his work to others of more educated and efficient means.
It wasn’t long before glitches in the technologies of the new water system were noticed. The water didn’t taste quite the same; there were particles of questionable content that had never been found in the water before. Adjustments were made but the experiment didn’t work as well as anticipated and the town soon lost its wonderful water and its reputation for excellence.
The women of our society and especially our mothers can be accurately compared to the “keeper of the springs”. Theirs is a labor of love, dedicated to producing in each new generation a pure, value based citizenship. The virtues of integrity, love of liberty, honesty, compassion, and confidence all are facilitated in the early and constant care of a mothers love. It is upon these virtues and that strong civilizations exist.
Keeping the spring waters of society clear and clean is what mothers do when they instill morals, values, socialization skills, love for learning, compassion for fellowmen in the hearts and minds of our citizens in the early years of life. When mothers are in the home building families, character is built that sustains cultural prosperity and success. Likewise, tremendous amounts of social data show that when homes are broken and dysfunctional, society suffers socially, educationally, and financially. The problems of divorce, devaluation of parenting, declining family time, confusions over sexual identity, promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, poverty, excessive taxation and below-replacement fertility are world wide concerns that beset civilizations that are not founded on strong traditional families. Truly our greatest protection against the loss of liberty and quality of life is found inside the walls of our homes where mothers are dedicated to being the “keepers of the springs”.
Dr Marshall rightly observed “There has never been a time when there was a greater need for keepers of the springs, or when there were more polluted springs to be cleansed. If the home fails, the country is doomed. The breakdown of home life and influence will mark the breakdown of the nation. If the keepers of the springs desert their posts or are unfaithful to their responsibilities, the future outlook of this country is black indeed. This generation needs keepers of the springs who will be courageous enough to cleanse the springs that have been polluted. It is not an easy task — nor is it a popular one, but it must be done for the sake of the children, and the young women of today must do it.”
United Families International wishes to thank the good women of the world who are today, dedicated to their posts as keepers of the springs. We recognize the difficultly of your work but we are convinced that it is a work that cannot be left to others. As Mother’s Day approaches this year, we invite you to reflect on the importance of the role of mothers and make sure your mother is adequately thanked and recognized for the contribution she makes to a healthy society!
Sincerely,
Carol Soelberg
President, United Families International