|
Many
of us are mothers or will be mothers but we all have or had
mothers. Therefore it would be good to stop and to think for
a while about this special WOMAN in our life.
She has been with us from the very beginning. In her womb we
could feel safe and well. Our birth has been not only difficult
for us (fortunately we do not remember this moment) but very
painful, sometimes dramatic for her. But in spite of that, she
loved us from this very moment, has been happy, proud and ready
to do everything for her own child. There were years of love,
tenderness, renounces, devotion and everything she did in natural
way.
And
her hands - beautiful hands - were always busy, patient with
daily duties but also ready to hug to her breast, to comfort
and wipe tears. Even when she rebuked or punished her own child,
in this way she expressed also her love to him/her. Mother is
always ready to fight for her child: with disease, misery, wars,
violence..., with all kinds of things which are degrading her
children. There were many poems written about her and it is
true that great people had great mothers. Each of us, we carry
in heart our own memories and picture of our mother. I think
that you agree with me that when we are older the more often
we think about our own Mother.
I
am grateful to God for my Mom. She taught me always things,
which were good. She opened my heart for the beauty of nature,
to see the people who suffer, are poor, need help... And now
her prayers are always with me. When I travel or when I am not
well, I know that my mother prays for me. This is God's grace
to have mother even when you are older.
But
it would be good to remember that there are children who have
no mothers, who have been rejected by them. They are important,
valuable and precious too.
Let
me share with you a very moving story from Ukraine, which I
have heard last year in November when I took part at the women's
conference in Kiev.
The
group of older sisters from a Baptist church wanted to help
children from orphanage. They had to take small children for
the walk in their prams. They have spent about one hour walking
depending on the weather. One of the older single sisters had
been very touched by a small, sick boy. According to doctor's
opinion he had no chance to live. He touched her with his fate
and appearance. She saw in him somebody similar to her - a not
needed, lonely person.
She
decided to visit him systematically. His health condition became
worse, therefore she could not take him for a walk any more.
This old lady has spent quite a lot of time in orphanage. There
was emotional relation between her and the small boy. Unfortunately
disease made progress and the child went to the hospital. She
visited him often in the hospital too. The little child has
been quieter and even a little better in her presence. Finally
the critical moment of his life came. Very strong pain of his
body caused the boy to cry and nothing could help him. It was
agony. The doctor sent the ambulance to take this old sister
to the hospital. He called her mother of this child. And at
once when the small boy felt hidden in her arms, he became quiet
and after a short time he has slept eternal sleep. Full of God's
love, the hands of this old, also sick woman, brought to the
boy not only physical help.
That
child rejected by his biological mother, found in the last minutes
of his life a sense of safety in the hands of a loving person.
From one hand it has been a little what this old sister has
done but from the second one it was great. She became spiritual
and also physical mother for this child.
Some
of you, who became mothers of adopted children, understand well
what I am saying.
You
certainly know what it means to be spiritual mother. I met many
of them. Even recently in Germany when I participated at the
International Baptist Churches (IBC) conference I talked with
a lady from Thailand. She has no biological children but she
helped and still helps other children also in their spiritual
birth. Sometimes this birth is long, difficult and needs a big
effort for the spiritual mother, but the fruits of it are also
blessed by God.
When
pregnant with Jesus, Mary visited Elisabeth she heard the blessing:
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child
you will bear." (Luke 1:42). Although she was speaking
to Mary and the God-Child she was carrying, I have no doubts
that her words are addressed to all mothers: biological, adopted
and spiritual.
I
wish you, Dear Sisters, God's blessings in every kind of motherhood.
May your children reflect God's love, joy and praise, this is
my prayer!
Prayerfully,
Ewa Gutkowska
back to top
Table of Contents
|
