Happy Mother's Day! Perfected Parenthood....

More thoughts and memories of mom today. I tried to avoid Mother's Day this year since my mom passed so recently, but it was unavoidable. Messages were everywhere. Mother's Day wishes have been coming from all directions and sources. Mother's Day is a big deal! We all have mothers of one sort or another. And in some way or variety of ways, we have been like a mother at one time or another to someone, if only in a small way for a little while. Even men act in mothering ways at times.

What do we think of as mothering? Nurturing, comforting, hugging, warming, kissing, cooing, emotional support, feeding, teaching, discipline, direction, guidance, nursing, healing, bandaging wounds. Some mothers have other characteristics: abandoning, rejecting, scolding, criticizing, judging, denying, bullying. Some traits are subtle. A few award winning. Others overwhelming, smothering, suffocating, destructive or murderous.

All of us are mothers in one way or another at one time or other. None are perfect. Except one! My God is a good mother, the most perfect of all! My God provides all my needs at all levels, in the most perfect ways, usually in surprising ways if I let God be God and surrender to the "parenting". God always knows more than I do, before I could ever discover even a part. God knows exactly the best way to give me what I need, direct and guide me where and when and what to do for my best and the best good of others. God can teach me what I need to know when I need it. God also disciplines and corrects, but in merciful and gentle ways if I respond with a desire to listen and do the best I can.

God can heal any wound and love unconditionally in abundant, lavish ways. And if I ask for the wisdom and ways to be, as best I can, a "mother" to others, God can do that too! I will never be perfect, but God is perfecting the motherhood in all of us that surrender to the parenting of God!

The Choice: Fear or Faith

What to do about fear? I grew up in a household of fear, with abuse and even violence in my extended family, and at home every day. By adolescence it became a normal state of being. I chose other relationships like my childhood ones without even realizing it. Fear causes stress and stress leads to dis-ease: in mind, heart, body and spirit. Today's world is full of messages of fear in media, advertising, news, movies and music. We can hear it in everyday conversations around us and with us. Fear causes an adrenalin reaction and can be addictive, hence the love of horror movies. Ultimately fear takes joy out of life and can hasten death. I nearly died and fear was a big part. I am finding a better WAY that leads to serenity, peace, joy and fulfillment. That WAY is faith. But faith is not easy. It takes work and action. Faith is trusting in life, in ourselves, in something greater than ourselves, especially when we find we cannot handle it, alone or otherwise. It is coming to believe that life is ultimately good and there is meaning to suffering, hardship and loss. It is coming to believe that all is well and good no matter what our experience at the moment. I am coming to believe all of that. But not without faith in God. Stay tuned! Peace be with you. Dee