Motherhood

Tomorrow is Mothers' Day, and I want to say how in awe of mothers I am.

I am in awe of women who are currently in the trenches of motherhood. Who daily struggle to meet all the needs of their children. Who would do anything for love of their children. What amazing resilience they show us.

I am in awe of mothers who have lost children. I have only begun to walk this valley of tears with you, and it is so very, very hard. You have such a burden to bear. What amazing strength they show us.

I am in awe of the women who yearn to be mothers. Who are struggling with infertility, and want nothing more than to hold a child in their arms, but, despite this deep longing, are still at peace in Christ. What amazing trust they show us.

I am in awe of women who long to begin living their vocation of wife and mother. Who are still praying for the day when they will meet the man who can make their discerned marital vocation a reality. What amazing patience they show us.

I am in awe of women who may not be mothers in the eyes of the world, but are truly mothers, nonetheless. Holy single women, married women never blessed with children, religious sisters... every woman who nurtures and cares for all of the people God has placed in her life with the unconditional love of a mother. They show us the true vastness and lavishness of God's love.

All mothers, whether their children live on earth or in heaven, whether their children are biological or adopted or spiritual, can teach the world so much about God's love. Mothers are constantly taking up their crosses, laying down their lives, giving of themselves for their children. And, in this death to self, there is new life.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed the beauty of woman as mother so well while speaking at a UN Women's Conference:

"God has created each one of us, every human being, for greater things-- to love and to be loved. But why did God make some of us men and others women? Because a woman's love is one image of the love of God, and a man's love is another image of God's love. Both are created to love, but each in a different way. Woman and man complete each other, and together show forth God's love more fully than either can do it alone.

That special power of loving that belongs to a woman is seen most clearly when she becomes a mother. Motherhood is the gift of God to women. How grateful we must be to God for this wonderful gift that brings such joy to the whole world, women and men alike!"

Happy Mothers' Day! Let us praise God together for the wonderful gift of motherhood that "brings such joy to the whole world!"

As a little Mother's Day gift to you, I want to share a sonnet I wrote, the fruit of a lot of recent prayer and reflection on the mysteries of motherhood, with its beautiful interconnectedness to the mysteries of Christ and His Blessed Mother.

I dedicate it to my own wonderful mother, who was the first to teach me of God's amazing love, and to my two precious children, Julia Grace and Francis Marie, who have each continued that lesson for me, in their own beautiful ways.

Mother’s Cross

Upon a cross of steel and sterile drape

Pierced flesh, the blood and water greatly flowed

New life sprung forth from gravid womb agape

Bruised, swollen yet joyful despite the load

Next babe so loved in hidden depths inside

Taken by God in secret way unknown

Mother to labor forth her silent child

Her voice joins with the suff’ring world to groan

True love is sacrifice of all we are

Outstretch of arms to bring the greater good

To usher in new life with painful scar

Or e’en submit our child to cross’ wood

The Father knows our joy and shares our woe

Incarnate Son hast trod this earth below