Comfort Me As A Mother Comforts Her Child
Suddenly I was able to imagine God doing those things for me
Welcome to the Mothering Spirit newsletter! Each Saturday morning, you’ll receive a round-up of the week’s posts—perfect for your weekend reading.
This week on Mothering Spirit
Cameron Bellm shares a lovely story about how a routine dermatologist appointment led her to new insights about God:
“The truth is that I'm used to being the mother. The one who kisses my children's scrapes. The one who tucks them in at night. The one who delights in their laughter and treasures the hugs I manage to squeeze in. But I was suddenly able to imagine God doing those things for me.”
Read the rest here: A Turn of the Kaleidoscope.
A lovely footnote to Cameron’s original essay: Teresa Kim Pecinovsky, the author of Mother God (the children’s book that Cameron mentions) was generous enough to share this free Scripture guide with our readers as a companion to her book.
"Yes, You are my Father, and yet, the Prophet Isaiah reminds me how You are also as a Mother to me. You “comfort me, as a Mother comforts her child” (Is 66:13).
You know me and you will never forget me, just as a mother
will never forget her child (Is 49:15).
In the words of the Psalmist, I will find refuge “under Your wings” (Ps. 91:10)
just like a mother bird guards her young."
If these Scriptural images of God are new for you, you might love Karianna Frey’s gentle prayer: Comfort Me, Know Me, Hold Me.
This week’s 1-Minute Retreat invites each of us to see our own kids in new light: to behold.
What if we tried to behold our life?
To behold our children.
To try to see them with God's eyes.
With love. And compassion. And hope.
Let yourself try it today.
Read the short reflection here or watch the 1-Minute Retreat on Instagram.
On the Feast of the Annunciation
In many churches, today (March 25th) is the Feast of the Annunciation celebrating the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Mary and his announcement that God has chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. If you’ve never celebrated this feast of motherhood, you might be able to guess why it’s today…exactly nine months before Christmas!
The Annunciation has long been a favorite subject for artists. Here’s a fascinating round-up of contemporary images of this famous scene. Plus one more from the contemporary French sacred artist Arcabas:
Today might be a lovely day to remember and reflect on the moment that you learned you would become a mother for the first time. What prayer could you give for that day?
From our sponsors
This week's sponsor of Mothering Spirit is Brazos Press, publisher of Feminist Prayers for My Daughter. This new book from Shannon K. Evans encompasses all of life from birth to death while imagining God in ways that resonate with the feminine experience. Feminist Prayers for My Daughter offers short prayers that affirm the unique challenges and embrace the natural abilities embodied by our daughters. Categories of prayers include embodiment, relationships, wholeness, justice, equality, and milestones. Feminist Prayers for My Daughter is now available wherever books are sold!
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