Shirley Caesar has blessed our hearts with many songs about mothers. The momma song that always got under my skin was the one that began in her sister's kitchen. The sister's little boy submitted a list of chores and his charges for doing those chores that totaled $14.75. Caesar's sister presented the boy with her own set of chores and charges:

"For the nine months I carried you - no charge; for the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you- no charge." The song continues that the his mother was not going to charge for the tears, years, late nights, toys, school, clothes, advice, worries and the cost of college. She concludes when you added it all the full cost of her love was no charge.

Motherhood can be an expensive enterprise but there is at least more than one mother who would do it all for free. Her name was Jochebed, the mother of Moses. The book of Exodus reveals to us that there were several persons placed by God intentionally into the life of Moses. It took six women to keep Moses alive. Think now how many women it took to keep you alive!

Most of us may have one mother but we also have other mothers who helped keep us alive. We have a church mother, neighborhood mother, a designated mother, play mother, auntie mother, school mother, baby sitter mother, best friend's mother, work-place mother- women who had a role to play to keep us alive.

They were placed by God to say something at just the right time to turn our lives around; kept us out of danger; distracted us from stuff that could hurt us; when we were hungry fed us, took us in or took us under their wing, nourished us, pointed us in the right direction; taught us their favorite recipe; they were early warning devices; wise counselors, advice givers whether we wanted the advice or not; admonished us, chastised us or whipped us with a word, a prayer or a stare. Thank god for other mothers!

It was a dark day in the life of the Israelites in Egypt. The sting of the master's whip left their marks on the minds, hearts and psyches of these people. The decree that sentenced baby boys to death letting the baby girls live was devastating.

Jochebed, a member of the priestly family a Levi gives birth to a son. two other women, the chief midwives, Shiprah and Puah participated in a conspiracy to keep the baby boy alive.

She hid him from the guards patrolling the streets of Goshen looking for law breakers. There were also spies in the cap - looking for a little extra money by revealing the hidden secrets of mothers who tried to pretend that their infants were girls and not boys.

Jochebed eventually has to throw him into the river as the law requires. She puts him in a basket first- one made of pitch and tar. mother there may come a time when you have release your children to the world but make them a basket not of pitch and tar but one of courage, strength, morals, sense of self god and purpose. Don't let them go without giving them something first.

In the end Moses is rescued from the river. Big sister Miriam is sent to find a Midwife from among the Hebrew women. The young girl brings back her mother who cares for her own son in Pharaoh's house. Jochebed is even paid to do a job for which she'd be happy to do for free. That's God!

She did what she could, when could for as long as she could. While she nursed Moses she could has whispered in his ear, his future and destiny, taught him about his heritage; folded his little hands to pray over his food; taught him about the one and only true god; song the songs of Zion when she rocked him to sleep. She gave him everything that he needed to do like any good mother.

She didn't give him gold chains, $200 tennis shoes, designer jeans, ipods, cell phones, braids, but the things that money can't buy: love, joy, peace, security. So when he was grown and went walking in downtown Goshen he realized that he was more like those in the pit rather than those in the palace. His heart was made ready so when God ready to call him from the backside of the Median desert to lead let the people to freedom he was already wired to turn aside to go see the burning bush that wasn't consumed.

In the end the full cost of her was No Charge.

As presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the AME, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is a guiding example for women and church leaders throughout the country. Her messages can be heard online daily at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. For more information about Bishop Vashti McKenzie, log onto www.13thame.com *Bishop McKenzie is a 2009 StreamingFaith.com Guest Columnist.

© Bishop Vashti McKenzie all rights reserved