MotherPower1

"My wonderful mother went through extreme difficulties during depression years -- trying to clothe and feed our family. Through
it all, she showed love, strength, courage and a marvelous sense
of humor. My 'Mom' was my best friend. She was fantastic."
- Norma Zimmer, Lawrence Welk's Champagne Lady

It is with joy that I share these quotes from celebrities and others that have been graciously provided for a manuscript which is yet unpublished. As we honor parents in this way, focusing attention on motherhood, let's hope that our appreciation for family Life will be renewed. In the words of Tara Cowan, a little girl from Texas:
"I think being a mother is an important job in this world. Mothers have babies and if there were no mothers, no one would be born."

"I greatly admire women, and their capabilities. As a father of four daughters, though, and the proud husband of a great woman, I anguish over the mistaken priorities of many women. I've personally heard from Golda Meir and Indira Ghandi, and I believe Margaret Thatcher as well, that though they were heads of State and international leaders -- their greatest regrets were they weren't the mothers they should have been, and wanted to be. My mother, God bless her, my wife and four daughters, have all chosen 'the better road.' Instead of doing the same things that men do, as well or better, they've chosen
to do what men can't do -- be good wives
and mothers, and shape the future of generations to come." - Pat Boone

The tragedy is that in many urban areas, nearly 80 percent of the kids are born to single parents -- who are too young, too poor, and too unloved themselves. This is why those of us who are fortunate enough to have a loving mother
and/or father must do our part to help."
- Senator Bill Bradley

This legendary Tennessean made white shoes, good manners, wholesome music and a Christian lifestyle worthy of emulation. Pat Boone responded to my request to honor mothers by writing these interesting words:

"My mother was more than a woman who devoted her entire life to me -- as I was an 'only child.' She was a great pal to me and a wonderful conduit between me and my father. During my early 'teen years,' when having a car is such an important part of a young man's life, my mom always managed to negotiate on my behalf, to obtain the keys for the car from my father. I don't think my mother ever truly realized what a vital part she played to my 'romantic' soul."
- said the gentle TV giant who laughed with Johnny Carson more than
anyone else on the planet, everyone's friend, big Ed McMahon

"My mother was the calm in the midst of family chaos. We had three boys and four girls in our family and life on the farm required that we
all did our share of work. Mother was the hardest worker of all with not one complaint. I remember the smell of bread baking a couple of times a week at six in the morning. I remember her canning fruit and vegetables, making quilts, changing diapers and washing diapers. (There were no 'throwaway' diapers in those days). The song 'Mother' always brings back loving memories. Like the song ends, 'Mother, the word that means the world to me." - Myron Floren, the man with the smiling
face when standing with Lawrence Welk and playing his accordian
for millions of music lovers for many wonderful, wonderful years

As a "Mom" herself, and someone who has heard it all while doing
her TV shows, Sally Jessy Raphael said: "If you've brought your children up to like themselves, you've done the most important thing a mother can do."

"You can lament the crisis of family, but if you're going to reduce violence, you're going to have to do more than lament it. You're going to have to put some structure, some tough love, some expectations in the lives of kids adrift on the dark sea of violence and hedonism.

Popular singer Nancy Wilson said:
"I was blessed to have had 'two' mothers. They both had strong influences on me. They also had a strong sense of self, family, God and community -- sharing, helping, nurturing and giving love with firmness. They made me understand that one must love themselves before they can pass that love on to others. My 'two' mothers taught me that life is a precious gift to be enjoyed -- to be realistic, not negative, and to know that what you put out there -- you get it back."