The Mother Divine:
A Mother's Day Meditation for all ages and all ways of experiencing mother-dom
Scroll to the bottom for a printable pdf.
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The below verses give us a glimpse of a God who mothers. Read them aloud, slowly. (Perhaps twice).
What sticks out to you or makes you think about God in a new way? Kids (or creative adults): Choose the one you like the most and draw or paint a picture of the imagery it calls to mind. Adults: Pray with one of these images in mind. Does it impact the way you talk to God? |
Born in the middle ages, Julian of Norwich is widely recognized as one of England's most important Christian mystics, and her feast day always falls near mother's day. She wrote one of the first books in English authored by a female: "Revelations of Divine Love";. She was captivated by the ways the Biblical prophets likened divine love to the love of a mother, and understood God as truly our mother "as truly as God is our father".
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God guarded Jacob as an eagle stirs up its nest, and hovers over its young; as it spreads its wings, takes them up, and bears them aloft. Deuteronomy 32:11-12
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1
For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. Isaiah 42:14
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1
For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. Isaiah 42:14
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13
How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! Luke 13:34
Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. Psalm 131:2
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I who took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. Hosea 11:3-4
Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. Psalm 131:2
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I who took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. Hosea 11:3-4
The Skin of God
A Mother's day meditation for all who mother, and for all who are mothered
There is an old story of a little boy unable to fall asleep, whose mother keeps telling him not to be afraid, because Jesus is right there in the dark with him, and the boy finally says, nearly crying, "I need someone with skin on."
We all have experienced the skin of God, rooting us in love through people in our lives.
Light a candle and read the following (perhaps aloud):
For all those who mother today-
For those whose love makes you so full it almost hurts,
For those who are exhausted to their very edges,
For those who ache to mother a child of their own,
For those who ache for their own mother's love,
For those who mother with or without a title every day:
For those who carry our stories-
who hold the hands of those who hurt,
who hold space for pain that can't be fixed,
who show up for our joy,
who offer us a seat,
who notice us in a crowd,
who feed our bellies,
who tell us the truth,
who wipe our tears,
who see the parts of ourselves we don't yet see,
who occupy the space between who we are and who we are becoming,
You are the skin of divine love- the very love knit into the fabric of our being from the moment we were knit together in our mother's womb. The love that roots and grounds us into our every adventure and hope and task before us- the love by which we know how to love.
Today, may you feel the collective warmth of the love of all who have mothered you, and all whom you have mothered.
We all have experienced the skin of God, rooting us in love through people in our lives.
Light a candle and read the following (perhaps aloud):
For all those who mother today-
For those whose love makes you so full it almost hurts,
For those who are exhausted to their very edges,
For those who ache to mother a child of their own,
For those who ache for their own mother's love,
For those who mother with or without a title every day:
For those who carry our stories-
who hold the hands of those who hurt,
who hold space for pain that can't be fixed,
who show up for our joy,
who offer us a seat,
who notice us in a crowd,
who feed our bellies,
who tell us the truth,
who wipe our tears,
who see the parts of ourselves we don't yet see,
who occupy the space between who we are and who we are becoming,
You are the skin of divine love- the very love knit into the fabric of our being from the moment we were knit together in our mother's womb. The love that roots and grounds us into our every adventure and hope and task before us- the love by which we know how to love.
Today, may you feel the collective warmth of the love of all who have mothered you, and all whom you have mothered.
Questions to meditate on
This would be perfect to journal or reflect on on your own, or with whomever you are with this mother's day.
1) Who comes to mind that has been the skin of Divine love, rooting you in love in your life? What has that looked like? Write their names below and pray a prayer or speak a word of gratitude over them.
2) How have you been the skin of God for others? Who is rooted in your love? Don't be shy. This is a lofty call. Your love matters every single day for those you touch. Take a moment to name the goodness that lives and grows inside you as you give yourself to be the skin of Divine love for those around you.
2) How have you been the skin of God for others? Who is rooted in your love? Don't be shy. This is a lofty call. Your love matters every single day for those you touch. Take a moment to name the goodness that lives and grows inside you as you give yourself to be the skin of Divine love for those around you.
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