Spiritual Things Matter

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

After picking my children up from school yesterday, I let them have their usual snack time and then play time outside. The weather was like a fresh spring day as the trees are beginning to blossom and flowers are peeking their heads.

I stayed inside for a little while longer doing my motherly chores that children just never think about. I emptied their backpacks and am amazed just how heavy they are. As I opened their lunch bags, I smiled when I discovered the notes that I had written them in the morning, were still there. I picked each note up only to discover that both my children had written me a love note in return. My daughter, in her seven-year old print says: “Mama, you are the bestes Mama in the world. I love you so much.” I smiled. I then, looked at my son’s note and noticed that he responded to mine on the back with his beautiful newly-learned cursive handwriting, “Mama, I love you too.” My heart felt full and tears welled up.

I opened the front door and just stood there watching my children play with their friends in the neighborhood. I smiled and felt deep gratitude for the gift of Motherhood. As my children played with their friends with such care-freeness and pure joy for life, I had a prayer in my heart for them all.

Let the innocence of youth stay pure as they grow and mature.
Let their laughter echo around them that others may find hope for joy.
Let their purity be guarded as they wander into the world.
Let their sensitivity grow into greater awareness of You.
Let their hunger to understand lead to knowledge to assist mankind.
Let their mystical hearts gain wisdom and a discerning eye.

And as they grow older with each passing year,
protect them in your loving care.
And as I teach them to be kind, let that truth go deep into their beings,
as they will realize the pain and sufferings of others.
As they shed their own tears, breath upon them Your Holy Spirit -
and comfort them.
And let them always find their way to You.

I closed the front door, stood silently and gained strength once again to be a mother from the heart. My prayer was to trust the wisdom that is deep within me and to know that the Universe that God has created is rich in its desire to give fully and completely.

Peace begins with a smile.
~Mother Teresa

As I stepped outside today, I took a long breath in appreciation of the freshness of the air which the rain had left behind. All the colors looked richer and expressed their beauty yet more refined. The birds sounded cheerful and seemed to sing a song of gratitude for yet another loving reminder that a wonderfully unseen Hand holds all together.

As I sat to take in a moment of gratitude, I thought of a little girl at the Zoo the other day. My family was in an exhibit and I was sitting on a bench, savoring some ice cream. It was a beautiful spring like day. I could feel the sun penetrate through my clothes and I felt comforted by its warmth. I closed my eyes as I listened to the background noise of people talking and children laughing. The animals seemed especially happy for it was an unusually beautiful day.

I opened my eyes and just then, a little girl about eight years old, passed by me. She held on to her father’s hand and I could tell in her eyes that her life was endowed with love. She was beautiful as I saw the richness of her interior through her eyes. Her eyes danced with innocence and beauty. I smiled at her and she quickly and tenderly smiled back at me. I watched her as she and her father passed by me. Then she turned once more to smile at me, as if to say, “Thank you for noticing me today. You’ve seen a treasure in me that I did not know I had. You’ve awakened in me an awareness of that which is around me and its beauty has enriched my life.” I smiled back with as much tenderness as she had just given me. Only a short moment passed when she, once again, turned to give me one more smile. I smiled back, nodded my head and waved my hand to her.

It was a beautiful and very meaningful moment. I held her close to my heart and prayed that God will keep her safe in His tender care. That she may know true happiness and come to understand, that the tears she will shed will bring deeper understanding of the mysteries that this life holds.

I could not help but think of all the children in the world whose eyes are dimmed with sorrow and the dance of joy cannot be seen. I thought of the many children who live in abuse and pain so unbearable, that the only thing they can do is to create an inward world where they can hide themselves in order to feel safe. They cannot express their loneliness and desperation, thus, only the streams of their tears that are shed in darkness, will keep life flowing for them.

Oh, how I long for these children to feel the safety, happiness and contentment of that little girl at the Zoo. Might they find peace and rest in their hearts as they carve out their own way in this life. Might they find understanding hearts and loving smiles to aid in their healing, as they dare to emerge from their very closed in world. May we all smile many tender smiles at others, since we know not on whose heart they may fall.

Viola Jaynes