“Embracing Our Mother” by Rev. Christine Emmerling 5/14/23
Today being Mother’s Day I’m speaking on Embracing Our Mother. I found this story that was printed sometime ago in Mother Earth News by Utmutato a Leleknek I thought appropriate for Mother’s Day.
In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other “Do you believe in life after delivery?” The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”
“Nonsense” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?” The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”
The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.”
The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”
The first replied., “Nonsense. And moreover if there is life, then why has no one ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.”
“Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet mother and she will take care of us.” The first replied, “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?” The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her this world would not and could not exist.”
Said the first, “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.” To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and you really listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice calling down from above.”
As I thought about Mother’s Day it came to me to share some of my thoughts and concepts of mother. I came up with four aspects of mother. My first was, of course, my mother. The woman who gave birth to me, who nurtured in caring for my physical needs and loved me, and also disciplined when felt necessary. My mother, was my first sense of God. She could do no wrong, she was perfect and beautiful. Until one day my eyes opened, and I saw the human her. She made choices that I didn’t approve of, and how critical I became of her not meeting up to my expectations.
Then I too became a mother, another story. But then I found compassion and understanding for my mother. I could share my deepest dreams and fears, my daily challenges and my successes, and most of all my spiritual journey. For when I found God within, I also found my mother as my best friend. Again, always being there. She never left me, but I returned with an open accepting heart.
My next thought of Mother, is our Planet, Mother Earth, Gaia. She nurtures life in providing all the substance of life; air, water, fire, earth. Out of which gives birth to an infinite array of plants, animals, minerals, oxygen, and heat. She is so beautiful, especially in the springtime with all its flowers in bloom, after the barren of winter. Each season with its own beauty, gifts and time for appreciation. Through her I experience the cycles of life and creation. Mother earth is my second sense of God.
Then one day I see her as lacking, being abused, polluted and possibly dying. Then I found God within, and once again I see the beautiful creation she is perfect and full of life -- life giving life. I take walks and commune with her listening through the trees, the flowers and vegetables, the animals, and even the air I breath. She has become my friend.
Next came the thought of our Holy Mother, the mother of Jesus the Christ. The highest image of motherhood and womanhood. As a child, I saw Mary as innocent, the miraculous virgin birth. Raising of Jesus knowing she must let him go at the early age of 13. And, then long suffering in watching her son being crucified and then resurrected. Another sense of God.
.
Then I found God within, and the Holy Mother as purity of mind and heart. Filled with compassion, unconditional love, forgiving, trust, faith, devotion and obedience to the will of God. Now I can be a friend and embrace these qualities in myself. I also see our Holy Mother as the Cosmic Mother. She is the guiding influence of love and compassion for all of humanity and this living planet. Cosmic Mother giving birth to the light and love that is in all of us.
The following is written by Helena Bewley from the book “Mother I will always love you.”
“No matter how much I do that disappoints you, no matter how often I forget all you do for me, your heart is always open.
You have given me more than life; you have taught me how to believe in myself and strive for my dreams.
You have supported my decisions, although in your heart you knew they were not always the best.
And if I failed, you awaited me with open arms, as if I could do no wrong, helping me to grow and learn, to find the strength to go on and become a better person.
You have taught me to never give up hope and always to remember those who may not be as fortunate as me. Dear Mother, I love you.
The last aspect of mother that came to me, is the mother within us all. Whether male or female we all have these qualities, gifts of the spirit available within us. Our soul is hydrogenous. Our soul carries within it both aspects or energies of male and female. When we take physical form we are then polarized as either male or female. But within us are still both the masculine and feminine hormones, attributes and their energies in just different balances.
Focusing on the feminine aspect of Self, I think of that nurturing part of our self. That part of us that cares for another by physical care taking, give emotional support and offer encouragement.
There is part of us that can express unconditional love; non judging or critical, knowing the perfection that is truly there even when it is not visible. Selfless through service and sacrifice knowing a greater good to come forth. Courageous and strong, like a mother lion protecting her cubs. Yet encourages them and releases them to find there own way.
In another aspect of our mother self, I find the creative process of God within. The embodiment of creativity and self expression. The joy of creating, caring and giving.
Many people have unresolved issues with their mother, or the person that took that role in caring for them. Thus Mother’s Day can be more challenging for these people to find the appreciation within their heart. Instead it can be a day to direct our gratitude to the true giver of life - the Infinite Presence, the Creator God, the Mother aspect of God in all its expressions including that of you.
The following is a poem by Mother Teresa titled “Do It Anyway.”
“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway!
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.”
In closing, I invite us to take a moment to go within to send a message to our mother. If more than one fits that role, send to them also. Even if they’re no longer in this earth realm their spirit can receive... Thank you.