It was past lunch time. And I was hungry. Fortunately there is a place just up the road that likes to brag they make sandwiches really fast. You know the one.
It was late and I needed some food fast. Not fast food, but food fast. You get it, right?
So I jumped on their website, placed my order, trekked out to the minivan and hungrily zipped west, anxious to grab my order and scoot back to the office.
Roast beef with a few hot peppers and a side of those delicious jalapeño kettle chips. Ok, not exactly a kale salad, but not greasy and deep fried. At least not this time.
Not so fast. Suddenly I slam into a sea of bright red taillights. Grrr. This street can get a little busy at times. But a traffic jam? Seriously? I thought I left those behind in CA years ago. My afternoon date with roast beef and pepper jack screeched to an annoyingly aggravating stop.
So, of course I am rubbernecking and looking for a way to sneak around the gaggle of parked cars blocking me from a happy stomach.
What was going on? Why are we stopped? UGH!
Then I saw them. And my heart melted.
There must have been 8 or 10 little ones. Waddling ever so slowly across the often busy street.
At the lead, a very brave and confident Mama Duck. She was slowing leading her very tiny ducklings across the busy four lane. They were a tight little group. No one acting up, no one wandering off. No one getting ahead of Mama Duck.
Every little webbed foot was following, trusting, and fully devoted to go where Mama led them.
She never veered off path. She never slowed her pace. She never once flinched at the 2 ton speeding hunks of metal that could have easily run down and destroyed her family. No, she made a beeline straight for the other side of the street. Not deterred or distracted for even a moment.
Without her, those little guys were destined for the roadkill cafe. They had no hope of getting across to safety. Probability for survival without Mama Duck in the lead = 0%.
Finally, after one or two close calls, they made it across the street and traffic began to flow, allowing me to satisfy my roast beef cravings.
Mama Duck was impressive. No, she was beyond impressive.
Mama Duck was a leader extraordinaire. Mama Duck had a huge burden to bear and she was doing it well. The world around her and her little family was a swirling overwhelming blur of potential danger. She led on. And because of her tenacity and guts, the little family made it to the other side.
Moms are pretty amazing, aren’t they?
They lead through trouble, they lead through heartache. They lead across treacherous roads and across calm meadows. They “make it work” when there seems to be no way to “make it work”. Mom’s come to the rescue when we are lost or wounded. They show up every time and ready to do whatever it takes to improve the situation, no matter how hopeless.
I have a feeling most Moms don’t see themselves as leaders. They are just doing what they have to do to give their children their best. Even when they don’t feel brave or strong or like a “Great Leader”.
But I believe Moms are the greatest leaders of all.
Moms, you may not feel like a great leader. You may feel like you are consistently dwelling on the bottom of the food chain. That your efforts are for naught and no one is listening.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Your impact and influence stretches far beyond the wildest dreams of any elected politician, chief executive, or civil servant.
You are molding and shaping the future of those little ducklings quacking and shuffling along behind you. Sure, they get on your last nerve. They drive you absolutely batty at times. You are overworked, overwhelmed and most of the time, just plain worn out.
But, without you we are destined to be roadkill. We are counting on you to help us arrive safely and in one piece.
So lead on, Mama Duck. We have lots of roads to cross before we reach safety. And you are the only one that can take us there.