Mothers

MOTHERS
author unknown, adapted from an adaptation by Don Buttorf

This blessing is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers saying, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here."

This blessing is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they may never see. And those who mothered those babies-- forever to be their own children.

This blessing is for all the mothers in Haiti, or Nashville, who can't find their children or can’t feed their children. And the moms who put on their uniforms and said goodbye to their children as they left for a tour of duty.

Is mothering what is in the heart?

Is it the ache she feels when she watches her child disappear down the street?

The need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she hears news of a school shooting, a bomb scare, a car accident, a baby dying?

Yes it is so.

So this blessing is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn't.

This blessing is for all the mothers who have sat in the grocery store parking lot, next to their crying, screaming child, and cried or screamed too.

This blessing is for all the mothers who teach their sons to be good mothers and their daughters to follow an unconventional dream.

This blessing is for mothers who put pinwheels, teddy bears, or flowers on their children's graves.

This blessing is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who haven’t the words to reach them, and yet have never put them from their heart.

This blessing is for mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers.

And this blessing is for all of us who will move beyond sentiment into actions which support mothers and mothering persons in all of their life-giving and life-nurturing roles. Amen