My four-year old woke up in the middle of the night last night and crawled into bed with me. His legs hurt, and so I rubbed them. As we lay there he asked, “Mommy, will you protect me?” The answer, of course, was easy for me. Yes, I will protect you. I will do everything possible in my power to keep you safe and happy. This simple common conversation gives just a glimpse of the divinity of motherhood.

As mothers, we have almost unearthly power, whether we realize it or not.

While doctors go to school for years to heal others, our simple touch can ease a wound. A kiss on a scratched knee and a hug makes the pain disappear. A Band-Aid placed by our hands across a new cut is enough for our child to jump up and play again.

Psychologists study endlessly to understand how to heal mental and emotional pain. When our children come to us with hurt feelings or hearts, we help them mend simply by holding them in our arms, telling them how much they mean to us and assuring them of their worth and potential.

Chefs work their whole life to create memorable meals for their customers. They want to create something people will come back for time and time again. When our children have grown and gone, they will long to return home for their favorite meal, served hot to them on the family table by their mother. A meal that they not only don’t forget, but crave when they are feeling sad and alone. A meal that comforts them with the first bite.

A mother’s power lies in simply being there.

At night a mother’s simple presence scares away the monsters and fears that haunt dreams. In the daylight hours simple words of encouragement stave off insecurities and worries of not being enough.

Simply having a mother’s hand to hold when needed allows a child to venture where they never would on their own.

When life beyond the windows of childhood brings challenges and struggles a simple call home can be enough to continue on despite difficulties. Even when mothers have aged and the daughters and sons have become physically stronger, the strength of love and tender care does not diminish.

Mothers need only to extend open arms and accepting hearts to the precious children first placed in their arms as cold and crying infants, which were immediately wrapped in the warmth of love and care, or perhaps brought to those arms through the miracle of adoption.

No matter what endeavors the world honors you for, there is not and never will be a greater or more powerful work than that which you do as a mother and the lasting touch you leave with your child.

We must remember that with great power comes great responsibility.

The impact of our words and actions are multiplied for good or bad.

Just as a kind touch can heal, so can a hurtful touch scar for a lifetime.

Just as our words can uplift and encourage, so can words of harshness beat down and degrade.

Our presence can comfort and confirm to our children, their worth. But our absence can send the message to our children that they aren’t even worthy of our time.

The formula is not complicated, though it can be difficult.

Your child needs to feel your love.

Your child needs to hear of your belief in them and of their exceeding value.

They need to know that you are proud of them, even in, perhaps especially in the midst of their mistakes. They need reassured that you believe in their goodness.

They need a mother who cares for herself. A mother who continues to improve and find the path to happiness even in the midst of caring for the precious souls entrusted in their care. They deserve a mother who moves courageously through the challenges that life inevitably brings continually extending the powerful, divine motherly love.