One of my favorite things to do
when I get to spend time with my mom is to rest my head on her shoulder. This
means we need to be seated for our heights do not match. It often happens at
the end of a day full of whatever may have come our way as we reflect on what
was and consider what is in store. It is a graced moment; a moment where time
seems to sit still.
Head on her shoulder moments seem
to hold every moment in which she has held me, comforted me, encouraged me and
sheltered me. Through a lifetime these can number a lot moments with each one
providing a snapshot into her vocation of mother. As I consider my mom’s
vocation of motherhood and that of the many mothers of the world, I can’t help
but reflect on the words of Christ: “Abide in my love…love one another as I
have loved you… go and bear fruit that will last” (John 15.9-7).
To abide in love is to
remain stable in love. Christ’s love is stable and continuous – is ever
encompassing and it never falters. God doesn’t show us love in hard to grasp
scenarios or philosophies instead God shows abiding love in simple concrete
moments, like resting on a mother’s shoulder. My mom’s shoulder to rest on and
cry on is a witness of Christ’s abiding love in my life. I am also aware that
not every child has this encounter of love and witness of Divine Love. There
are times when I rest my head on her shoulder that I think of the children who
do not know their mother or those who have broken relationships with their mom.
My heart aches for these children as we should all be able to know the abiding
gift of love. May our prayers be for these children and for their mothers, for
hope and for reconciliation.
Love
one another as I have loved you is a call to action. It is not stagnant but
life-giving. It means sacrifice and dedication. God invites us into this
command by the endless gift of love poured into our lives and then simply asks
that we share this love with others. Mothers have a way of showing love as real
and tangible. Not only in tasks done where they lay down their lives over and
over again for their children but in tender moments where an adult son can rest
his head on his mother’s shoulder and breathe in the gift of God’s love that
close. There are other times when I rest my head on my mom’s shoulder that I
think of this gift of love and how it has infused my life because she has lived
into her vocation of motherhood. I am always grateful for this. I also think of
the mothers who struggle to share this love and to be present because of traumas
and hardships in their lives. May our prayers be for these mothers from all
walks of life that healing may touch their lives and they may know the gift of
Divine Love.
Bearing
fruit is a natural part of motherhood – we the offspring would be that
fruit. We are in a sense a legacy of our parents and how we bear fruit gives
testimony to hope and new life. We sometimes don’t nurture the fruit which is
ours to grow and at other times we may even neglect. Still mothers choose to
bear fruit and instill lasting values, qualities and opportunities. As a child
who will never have his own children, I can see how bearing fruit is not simply
about being a parent but is in how we nurture others and are present to others.
This can be a bearing of fruit which will help transform someone’s life and set
them free to love with the heart of Christ. There are still other times when my
head rests on my mother’s shoulder that I give thanks for her nurturing and encouragement.
How she has shown me ways to bear fruit that will last by fostering my
relationship with Christ and by helping me to see the ways my life is bearing
fruit. I also then become aware of those who struggle with being loved, struggle
with their value and the gifts they offer; whether that is a mother, father or
child. May our prayers be for those who struggle to see the fruitfulness of
their life, may they have continual glimpses of God’s love for them and may we be
heralds of their dignity.
My plan
for this Mother’s Day was to show up at home and surprise my Mom. Although this
pandemic has changed those plans again, I give thanks for the moments I have
had to rest my head on her shoulder in the past and look forward to the next
time I can share in this graced moment. Until then I am grateful for her
vocation of motherhood and how I have encountered the abiding love of God as
close as my mother’s shoulder.
Let us
offer our prayers for all the mothers of our world, from all walks of life who
bear love so to help our world love better.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom and to all Moms!
Photo Credits:
Jordan Whitt
Maya MG
Nick Fewings
