My Mother
I want you to meet my Mother.
This beautiful woman has been taking me by the hand since I met her, when I was more of a girl than a woman, and has been showing me since who I really am.
And who I am supposed to be.
When motherhood has felt like such a tall order, when I doubted my ability to actually instruct a child in how to be a follower of Christ, she has taken me by the hand.
She is gentle, she is silent. Her silence gives me a space to cry when I need to, and a listening ear to take these cries to her Son.
When I have felt overwhelmed y my lack of natural homemaking skills, she takes me by the hand.
She is orderly, she is diligent. She "does not eat the bread of idleness" and has guided my hands and heart to knead bread with love, to wipe a counter in prayer.
After all, she did these things for her Holy Family, too.
When I have felt too little, like a child who can't find her mother in a crowded store, she comes running to me.
She is strong. She "makes haste" to be at my side, and shows me that "I can do all things in him who strengthens me."
When I have felt less than lovely, less than worthy, she smiles her tender and knowing smile and stands in her unhampered, unselfconscious stance. This is how she shows me that she is a real woman, made beautiful because of her passionate love for Jesus.
Our Lady of Tenderness, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Thousand Joys,
Questing Madonna of all God's children,
Homemaker of Nazareth,
Teacher of everyday wisdom,
Companion of all wives and mothers,
Icon of womanhood to husbands and fathers.
As you go about your daily chores, the little things that sometimes feel like nothing, maybe you would like to join me in inviting my Mother into your home? Pray to her that the bread will rise, that the baby's tooth will finish cutting, that the cheque won't bounce.
Pray to her for all the little things.
For not only is she my Mother, but the Mother of us all.
This beautiful woman has been taking me by the hand since I met her, when I was more of a girl than a woman, and has been showing me since who I really am.
And who I am supposed to be.
When motherhood has felt like such a tall order, when I doubted my ability to actually instruct a child in how to be a follower of Christ, she has taken me by the hand.
She is gentle, she is silent. Her silence gives me a space to cry when I need to, and a listening ear to take these cries to her Son.
When I have felt overwhelmed y my lack of natural homemaking skills, she takes me by the hand.
She is orderly, she is diligent. She "does not eat the bread of idleness" and has guided my hands and heart to knead bread with love, to wipe a counter in prayer.
After all, she did these things for her Holy Family, too.
When I have felt too little, like a child who can't find her mother in a crowded store, she comes running to me.
She is strong. She "makes haste" to be at my side, and shows me that "I can do all things in him who strengthens me."
When I have felt less than lovely, less than worthy, she smiles her tender and knowing smile and stands in her unhampered, unselfconscious stance. This is how she shows me that she is a real woman, made beautiful because of her passionate love for Jesus.
Our Lady of Tenderness, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Thousand Joys,
Questing Madonna of all God's children,
Homemaker of Nazareth,
Teacher of everyday wisdom,
Companion of all wives and mothers,
Icon of womanhood to husbands and fathers.
As you go about your daily chores, the little things that sometimes feel like nothing, maybe you would like to join me in inviting my Mother into your home? Pray to her that the bread will rise, that the baby's tooth will finish cutting, that the cheque won't bounce.Pray to her for all the little things.
For not only is she my Mother, but the Mother of us all.
This is beautifully written, Jenna. You find the words where I truly cannot. Thank you for sharing about your special relationship with your mama. She really is the Mother of us all :)
ReplyDeleteexactly.
ReplyDelete