A Mother's Love

This week is one of reflection.

In Christianity it is the season of advent where we contemplate the coming of Christ. This year in that story I can’t help but think of Mary. The sacrifices she made for that baby, in such a dark time. Not only did she travel to Bethlehem in the final days of pregnancy to have a baby in a barn,  Mary ended up being completely displaced from the world she new as she fled to Egypt in order to save the life of Jesus. How clever of God to put the savior in the hands of a mother. He knew that a mother’s love provides endless protection and sacrifice.

So many mothers have been stretched this year. 

In reflecting, I can’t help be grateful to have had so many things stripped away this year. To have weeks of quarantine with just me and my two babies as we navigated the early unknowns of the pandemic.  Around that time I wrote this journal entry and when thinking of a symbol for my Mother Collection I knew it had to be a hand—mine have never been so tired, but also so full.

 

A Mother’s Love in Covid 

 

In this place of hiding I held you.

 

For the first time sweet boy, sweet girl,

there was no other person to bring comfort.

You’ve never been asked to give so much.

So I held tight wanting you to know that you are

loved, that you’re okay.

 

Even as you are asleep, I still feel the weight of you.

It’s an ache in my body.

I’ve never been so tired,

so I wear that ache like a heavy blanket,

it grounds me.

It brings me peace in a way I didn’t know I needed.

 

I’d always been told it is better to give than receive.

Baby, to you I have given more than I knew I had:

Mind, body, soul.

If I had more, it’d be yours.

I love you that much.

 

I’m grateful that you let me hold you.

After this is over, how will I ever let you go?