The spirit and influence of mothers

May 7, 2015 | (26) Comments

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. It’s the day we show appreciation to the special women in our lives who take care of our children and who took care of us growing up. Mother’s Day always reminds me of my childhood and celebrating that holiday at our church.

When I was growing up, my family and I went to church a lot. We went for Sunday school, again for church service, broke for lunch and then went back for choir practice and for Baptist Training Union, which was essentially a repeat of Sunday school.

I confess, I sometimes faked a headache to try to get out of that extra church, but my mother – like most mothers – was far too smart for that. She’d say, “Oh, Mark, that’s just a TU (training union) headache. Now get in the car.”

But I never tried to fake an ailment when the Mother’s Day Sunday service came around. I looked forward to it. Our pastor, Hugh Bumpas, better known as Brother Bumpas, would ask all the mothers to stand, and then he’d start identifying the one with the most children, the oldest, the youngest, the one who came from the farthest away, etc. It was fun to see who held the “title” for each distinction.

The moment of recognition was brief, but it was powerful. All those moms proudly standing, knowingly acknowledging each other for the bond they shared and the service to which they all had committed themselves day after day. This Mother’s Day, I want to do the same for the moms here.

Women make up almost 70 percent of the Texas Children’s family, and we know that at least 73 percent of those women are mothers. Now, I can’t really ask all of you to stand – nor do I think it would be prudent to ask which one of you is the oldest – but I do want to take this moment to celebrate you and your contributions to and impact on our world, especially here at Texas Children’s.

As mothers, you lead and organize, you listen and guide; you epitomize strength, compassion and commitment. And you bring all those qualities to bear on everything you do here, not only for our patients and their families, but also for your fellow team members. You constantly give the best of yourselves for those in your care.

Honestly, I can’t imagine our organization without the spirit and influence of all the mothers who serve here. This Mother’s Day, we honor you.

26 Responses to “The spirit and influence of mothers”

  1. Darleen Yepes

    Thanks Mark for your awesome, encouraging words of appreciation for all that moms do; for our own children at home and for our children here at the hospital, we love and care for all of them.

    Happy Mothers Day, to all the moms here at Texas Children’s Hospital and around the world. We are truely blessed to have the most important job ever!

  2. Carlos

    I remember being a 10-year-old-boy having surgery at TCH and declaring that one day I was going to work at this amazing hospital. Every time I would pass through the hospital or see anything related to TCH, I would declared that one day I would work here.
    Almost 11 years later I was given the honor of working at TCH. I felt like that 10-year-old-boy all over again (without the surgery part though) because I was again in that amazing hospital that made everything so wonderful from beginning to end 11 years ago.
    After starting working at TCH I finally met the one behind all the smiles and leadership skills, Mark Wallace. A saying goes, “Such tree, such splinter”. In other words, “Such Mark Wallace, such Staff” or “Such great leader, such great staff”. THANK YOU, Mark Wallace for being an amazing and humble leader/person.
    You are very much appreciated all the time. God bless you!
    -Oh! I was also that little boy trying to lie to my mother in order to skip church 🙂

  3. Carlos

    HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!! WITHOUT YOU THIS WORLD WOULD BE INCOMPLETE! FOR ME EVERYDAY IS MOTHER’S DAY, SINCE MOTHERS ARE ALWAYS BEYOND SPECIAL. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

    PROVERBS 31: 10-31
    The Wife of Noble Character
    10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
    11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
    12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
    13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
    14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
    15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
    16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
    17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
    18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
    19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
    20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
    21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
    22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
    23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
    24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
    25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
    26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
    27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
    28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
    29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
    30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
    31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

  4. Thank you Mr. Wallace.
    I raised four wonderful sons. It was the most difficult and most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I’ve always thought that if at the end of my life it could be said that I gave the world four great men, my purpose would be fulfilled. They are amazing young men – I am blessed beyond words!
    I must add that raising these four men prepared me in so many ways for the job that I do today at TCH . I learned patience, long suffering, mutitasking, being fair and enforcing rules while providing love and support for all the different personalities, needs, and experiences. 🙂
    Motherhood is the greatest gift of my life!!
    Thank you so much for honoring it.

  5. Bella Belleza-Bascon

    Our guiding principle of “valuing individuals” resonates in your actions not some of the time, but all of the time. Thank you for the thoughtful and kind greetings Mark!

  6. Marla Truesdale Gibson

    Mr. Wallace, thank you for the blog regarding the Mothers at TCH and beyond. And many of us can identify with your story about growing up in church!
    I am honored to have the opportunity to work with children each and every day. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms at TCH and everywhere!

  7. Amber Tabora

    Love it! Thank you, Mark, for this special message. I know once I had my own kids (at the Pavilion, of course), it changed my perspective about what we do here. I have always believed in our mission and the importance of the work we do, but once I became a mother myself, I began to experience the mission at work in an entirely new way. I find it makes my commitment to this incredible place that much stronger and deeper. And it makes my appreciation for the talented, driven people who work here that much greater.

  8. Betty Moreno

    Mr. Wallace, your heartfelt story brought back many memories of past Mother’s Days in church when I was a child! I appreciate your recognition of the mothers that work at TCH; there is no finer group of compassionate women.

  9. Asha Thomas

    Mr. Mark,

    Thank you so much for recognizing all the mothers and sharing your childhood story. It brought tears in my eyes. It is a privilege and God’s gift to be a mother though it’s tough sometimes but rewarding.
    Working at Texas children’s is very very rewarding specially working with leaders like you
    , I cannot explain how it feels When you see smile on mothers face after their children started feeling better or even you got their PIV in one stick. They give you this look that you are the best nurse they have got today.
    Once again thank you for your leadership.

  10. Elizabeth Watson

    Thank you Mark for your kind words. Mother’s Day was always a special day for me as well – sitting as a little girl between my mom and Grandmother during church service. Today I am thankful for my wonderful childhood memories, my two healthy and happy boys, husband and family.

  11. Dr. Tom Hartley, DNP, RN, FACHE

    As a man who has spent his entire career working with amazing women who care for their families both at work and home, I would whole heartedly agree! I also truly appreciate this thoughtful leader recognizing them and showing his appreciation for their contributions.

  12. Charlotte Shaw

    I recall Mark Wallace speaking on grace during our 10 a.m. service one warm Sunday morning. He shared his maxim’s for leadership and as he spoke I felt so proud to be employed by the hospital that he lead. This tribute to his mother and his upbringing is quite precious and is a resounding endorsement of her job well done.

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