Ready to take know EXACTLY what you were created to do? Click here!

life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

We Mother On

by 201 Comments

farm10

My oldest mother gave birth to me eons ago.  She lived in a luscious garden by day and surely twirled under leafy moonlit palms by night.

She was the most beautiful creature in all the world, the consummate woman—made for glorious communion, devoted and adored.

She gave herself freely in love and affection.  Her name was Eve, the mother of all the living.

But like us all, her story bleeds.  She was wrecked by heartache.   Her paradise was laid waste.  So she hid and felt ashamed, she doubted His love and provision.

Her story is the story of us all—the fall that wrecked us and shut us out of Eden.

I see myself in her.  I am my mother’s daughter.   We both cling to the world’s only hope and her story sustains me.

She mothers on.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

n1443095177_30165473_4297

My flesh and blood mother gave birth to me in the January cold and bundled me up on a  Friday night for my first homecoming.

The handsome man in the fedora was no where to be found.  That is, until he brought the honky tonk band home from the bar to finish out their set in the kitchen at 3am.  Because surely homecomings need music.

(I’ll tell you the whole story someday but it may well be the best birth story in all the land.)

(Think Doyle Hargrave’s band in Slingblade)

This woman carried me through hell and back. She gave me the gift of life.  She worked all the jobs.  She sacrificed everything a woman can.   She NEVER complained.  She loved me,  she believed in me, she never, ever stopped giving, she worked harder than anyone I’ve ever known.  She laid her life down with quiet courage so that I might someday stand tall and find my voice.  This is how I learned to be a woman.  This is how I learned what it means to empty yourself.  She was first light for me.   She has made my every homecoming possible.

She is my momma.  And her love plays a melody in my heart.

She mothers on.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

spring7

 

My spirit and blood mother  gave birth to me on a Sunday morning, in the clear cool waters of Baptism.  Her name is called Church— the arc of safety, where Christ our Father has placed us and befits us with everything we need.

He left her with His manifesto and she faithfully labors on to give birth to God’s children;  to teach of His love and to serve His blessed body and blood for  life and forgiveness.  She is weary from the war, bruised and battle-worn.  But, she knows what’s at stake so she soldiers on, bending and stooping to hold on to us at all cost.

Mother Church will bear us to heaven, where we will finally know what price Love has paid to get us home.

Until then, she mothers on.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We labor and love and sacrifice—as our mothers have so faithfully done before us—for the sake of seeing the miracle of grace born and nurtured in another human heart.

Mother on, dear sisters.

You are the beautiful life-givers, body and soul.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Texas Aggie Mom says

    Thank you for this beautiful reminder of why we celebrate this weekend! My birth family was much like yours; in fact it sounds like our fathers were cut from the same cloth, from your previous posts on that subject. Like you, I am grateful for my birth mother, who endured great hardships. As an adult, I have found an girlfriend who, like me, was not adequately mothered during childhood. She and I have adopted each other as family, and that helps to fill the gaps. I look forward to sharing this post with her, and feel so blessed by your words. Thanks for the example you set for us as a mother, wife and follower of Christ, and have a blessed Mothers’ Day!

    Reply

  15. Angel Wilder says

    Mothering is painfully hard. No one really tells us that when they hand us that beautiful creature, but what a reminder that it’s worth every sacrifice. Thank you.

    Reply

  16. Agwube says

    Thank you for this piece. The description of your mother reminded me of mine and I was moved to tears.

    Reply

  17. Lori says

    Thank you for the beautiful words and images. I am a bit weary of the mothering on… Taking heart! Happy Mother’s Day!

    Reply

  19. Tammara says

    “You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the church for your Mother.” Cyrian of Carthage
    Beautifully written post, I liked the use of contrast between the two ‘mothers’… and the reminder to celebrate both tomorrow.

    Reply

  20. Tammara says

    “You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the church for your Mother.” Cyprian of Carthage
    Beautifully written post, I liked the use of contrast between the two ‘mothers’… and the reminder to celebrate both tomorrow.

    Reply

  21. Melanie @ Carmel Moments says

    Beautiful! So thankful for my mother who gave her everything for me.
    Praying that I am that blessing to my children. I’m a work in progress but I’m so thankful for God’s grace and correction on this journey of mothering. It’s the most beautiful thing I know.
    Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

    Reply

  23. Becca says

    Lovely. Thank you Edie for sharing your gift and your heart. Happy Mother’s Day to you.. A smidge late 😉 love and hugs from one of your many sister

    Reply

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *