The Value of a Mom

Salary.com, a Massachusetts firm specializing in determining compensation, surveyed 40,000 mothers and found that if she were paid for all her work, the average mother works 92 hours and week, and would earn almost $140,000 a year. The company concluded the average mom works at least 10 jobs, including housekeeper, teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, van driver, psychologist, and chief executive officer. Calculating the median salaries for each position and the number of hours worked at each during the week, the firm came up with an average salary of $138,095 a year. Salary.com’s calculations found that even mothers who work full-time outside the home, put in approximately $86,000 worth of work as mothers every year.

Proverbs reminds us, … Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels. Her husband trusts her with {all} his heart, and he does not lack anything good. She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and linen {with care} and works with willing hands. She is like merchant ships. She brings her food from far away. She wakes up while it is still dark and gives food to her family and portions of food to her female slaves. She picks out a field and buys it. She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned. She puts on strength like a belt and goes to work with energy. Proverbs 31:10-17 (GW)

I hope that every mother realizes that her worth and impact go far beyond her monetary value, for the role and blessing of motherhood can and should have an eternal value that even surpasses her temporal worth. Let’s celebrate motherhood and all moms and moms to be this Sunday.