Spiritual Things Matter

This Mother’s Day, the one person that comes to mind who has inspired me to become an even better mother is, Elisabeth Fritzl. This courageous Austrian woman has astonished so many of us with her efforts to give her children some sense of normalcy in an incredible abnormal environment. Her mother’s heart gave and kept on giving, although she only received profound sorrow and pain which lasted nearly a quarter of a century. The decorations in her tiny cellar moved me to tears as it shows so clearly that she remembered the stars and the moon which once represented her freedom. She shared that with her children, as was obvious, when her youngest child pointed to the moon and asked if God lived there. Her brokenness is severe and deep. May we wrap her and her children into our hearts and remember them in our prayers…even long after this story is no longer in the forefront.

Dear Brave Soul, Happy Mother’s Day!

Slowly emerging from all that was dark
into the light – which seems so painfully bright.
Slowly, very slowly, each step must be taken -
into freedom…..as senses are overwhelmed
by the generosity of life.

Love and life will embrace you soundly
Goodness and kindness are there to lift you up.
You are a part of our life!
You are a part of our world!
Welcoming you openly -
for love will embrace you all around.

Life with all its complexities
with all its painful sorrows and tears,
cannot be explained with our,
so very limited eyes of understanding -
for only one piece of the puzzle we see.

Yet, life remains a wondrous gift to be lived
with so much love and mysteries yet to be had.
We welcome you with all our hearts!
Embracing you with so much love!
And, with many, many tender thoughts that, now at last,
peace for you and your children will flourish -
forever…holding you securely – far above.

Thank you, oh, brave and fragile soul,
for loving your children – despite it all.
Thank you for teaching them with the little that you had.
Thank you for your astounding bravery and courage.
And thank you, oh, dear tender soul,
for having truly done your very, very best!

May the sun shine tenderly on you -
May her warmth bring healing comfort to your broken heart.
May the wind whisper his eternal truths into your ears
And may you sense his abiding strength as well as his tender mercies.
May the rain fall extra gently upon your brow.
And may each tender droplet bring new rhythm to your thoughts.
May your tears flow freely that you might feel again and begin to heal.
May life bring its beauty to you -
With generosity and with grace.
May it envelope you with new truth and new hope -
That you may find your own beauty which abides richly in you.
And, may Love embrace you and your children -
As our world cradles you firmly and tenderly in her prayers.

Happy Mother’s Day, our very dear Elisabeth!

Viola M. Jaynes
Mother’s Day 2008

May you never tire of giving of yourself as you reach deep within to find your true Source of Wisdom. May you value your motherhood above all responsibilities as you realize the true gift that you are to your children. May you continually find new ways of expression as you teach your children truths that will bind to their hearts.

I pray that even as the wind blows seeds to remote places you will also blow the seed of love into the deepest parts of your children’s hearts. I pray that this love is strong and unmovable that they may never doubt that you love them each with unfailing love.

I pray for insight into each of their hearts, that you may understand them and show compassion with truth. Let each prayer that you say be a dome of protection for them. Let each kiss that you give be warm and tender, flowing deeply into the unseen and mysterious areas of their hearts. Let each kind word and deed be a beacon of example for them. Let each warm embrace be as the fruitful branches of the trees giving bountifully with unending generosity.

Listen carefully to your own heart as you give correction, giving heed that it is done with thoughtfulness and care – never to injure but only to build up and heal childish and foolish ways. It is in your wise corrections that they will thank you in days that lie ahead, for you have taken the time to be their guide and their teacher. Then, as tears are shed, recognize the potential for the birth of laughter as life’s most meaningful gift’s come through pain.

It is my prayer that you will find others like you who share the joy and challenges of motherhood. It is my prayer that you will gain wisdom from others and that you will deal kindly with those who might see it a different way.

Let motherhood be experienced with such intensity that your capacity for compassion will be enlarged, becoming even as Mother Earth herself so that others may come and drink from the deep well of love that so richly abides in you.

May your days be blessed and fulfilled in every area of your life. May your children rise up and call you blessed. May you always see and feel the tenderness of God as your children embrace you with purity and trust. May you never feel alone in the rich expression of your mother-heart. May you continually realize that God’s abundant faithfulness and presence will refresh you and multiply your giving.

And, I pray that at the end of our journey, all of us mothers will have realized how much we have grown. That we may understand that it was our children who have taught us to love through their need for love. It was they who taught us to look beyond our tears and see the hope in every situation, for they needed hope to grow healthy and strong. It was they who taught us to keep the flame of passion burning because life’s diversities bring endless opportunities. Finally, it was they who taught our hearts to look deeper into the heart of God, finding yet again that love is the only answer for our world to be a better place.

I wish each of my dear readers a very Happy Mother’s Day!