Another Mother Blessing

A couple days ago I attended another mother blessing. This one was so different from the last I attended. There was no comparison (which I loved because each mother blessing so reflected who the mother was) other than that the mother left feeling so encouraged and yes, blessed. This mother blessing had six people in attendance and we were asked to bring a Bible verse to put in a jar and then words to read over the mother that were filled with encouragement and life. This mother blessing was full of simplicity, warmth, generous hearts and nurture. The mother sat on the floor by a cozy fire. The mountain view through the living room window can not be adequately described in words as the Autumn colors were in full cry. Each person there was a mother and had a fierce mother's heart. It felt like time stood still for all of us as we had busy, demanding lives back home, but for now where we were was what mattered so much. We each took turns reading what we had brought for our friend. As I have said before ~ each baby is a miracle ~ a treasure ~ and this one is baby number five. It is coming into a family FULL of life and love and action and adventure. It is going to be one very treasured very loved little one. This mom is an amazing woman. Her heart's cry is to mother well and to not feel burdened or bowed down in drudgery by her task. She wants to accept each moment mothering as the deep blessing it is, the gift that it is, the joy that it is, and to view her children as the greatest shaper's and builder's her soul has at this time as she selflessly serves and pours out herself. It is inspiring, and in the words we all read, this was reflected. We all admired and looked to her as inspiration. In turn she needed these words deeply and they filled her in a moment where she needed strength and courage. Her cup overflowed. After we read our words, trying to manage the vulnerability in a setting where we did not all know each other well (at least I was trying to manage my feelings of vulnerability ~ I cried a lot as I read ~ this girls means so much to me), we prayed over her and her husband. Men ~ the husbands and fathers ~ they do not have moments like this and really they need it too. They work so hard, they give so much, and they are just as worn out.  We wished that something like this ~ a building up, words of affirmation, could happen for them in a setting where they didn't feel incredibly uncomfortable! After we prayed we were given mason (canning) jars with a little note attached to remember to pray for our friend. We filled them with candy and it was a sweet reminder each time we had one to pray. This mother blessing was once again another reminder of how many many mother's hearts are so much the same. However we struggle with feeling like we are not enough, we are not doing our job well, that we can't quite reach the mark we set, and the underlying weariness runs deep. Our mother's hearts though...they don't stop. They keep on beating and they keep fighting and they keep hoping for the best. They want to see their children really live and to grow and know God. To be surrounded by those hearts in that sort of a setting did not just bless the mother we were focusing on but us as the blessers. I was honored to be there. I so deeply feel that each mother needs a mother blessing no matter if a new baby is coming or not. In those daily moments where she feels like she has failed in every way she needs to be able to remember those words spoken such as the ones spoken at this shower...to wash over her like a baptism of grace...and to remind her that she can always get back up and always keep on. xo