Thoughts on Mothering and Mother's Day: A Blessing

 

“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you..." Isaiah 66:13

Mothering is a messy, complicated business-

just like humaning,

with impossible expectations,

deep longings,

piercing pain

and incomprehensible joy. 

On Mother's Day 

gratitude and sadness

intermingle-

as they do whenever we are really

paying attention. 

The mothers

we wish we'd been...

the mothers

we wish we'd had...

the mothers

we wish were still with us...

the mothers

we never knew...

the "mothers"

we've had along the way

who made us who we are today...

the mothers

we've watched our daughters become...

or not...

All of their faces rise before us.

So we pause and

welcome them in,

 whatever emotions they bring.

This I know:

pain does not disqualify

gladness.

And love and gratitude

do not dishonor grief and sorrow. 

We are all in this together-

mothers, mothered, motherless -

siblings in the human family. 

Life is hard.

It's good to have days

when we on purpose say

Thank You.

So,

to all mothers, thank you.

for all mothers, Lord, thank you. 

And most of all, God, for mothering us,

Thank you.

- Kara K. Root, in Receiving This Life.