Smoky Mountains Sunrise
Showing posts with label Mother's Day 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mother's Day 2011. Show all posts

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The Invisible Mom

We first posted the following on Mother's Day two years ago.  It seems to us a beautiful reflection on the life and spirituality of many mothers.  It never occurred to us that this essay would be controversial, and we are still surprised by the international rage it generated and continues to generate.  As the comments that accompany the original post indicate, it apparently touched a deep vein of truth with many women.  Along with angry comments, we also received some of the most encouraging comments we have ever received from long-time readers.

We have since learned that this beautiful reflection was written by Nicole Johnson, who reads it at Women of Faith conferences.

For those who may have missed it, we offer it again. Please share your thoughts.

We wish all mothers a very blessed and happy day!


The Invisible Mom

The carvings depicting the Last Judgement above the central door or portal, Amiens Cathedral

By Nicole Johnson
It started to happen gradually. One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, 'Who is that with you, young fella?' 'Nobody,' he shrugged. Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, 'Oh my goodness, nobody?'

'On This Day, O Beautiful Mother'

Lovely Lady dressed in blue -------
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!
 
Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?
 
Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?
 
Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things -------
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels' wings
 
Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me -------for you know.
 
Lovely Lady dressed in blue -------
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.

Mary Dixon Thayer who wrote more than one poem for Our Lady, is the author.
This prayer-poem was popularized in the 1950s by Archbishop Fulton Sheen.