We all have or had a mother. Of course this is true but that experience can be anything from glorious to disturbing. If it was of the glorious type of relationship, then our experience is beautiful and sacred. If it is the other direction we are at a loss and often have a longing for such a love in our lives.
I have a life experience sort of in between. My mother loved me deeply, of that I am sure. I always knew that love was there and she would tell of emotional things in her life to me and no one else. That is where I learned to be a good listener and probably where I started to become a good therapist. My mom was not perfect however, whose is? There was always an unwritten expectation to always be better and in her case, to always be thinner. This was unwritten but it always played in my life as I was never quite good enough.
I lost my mom many years ago and that longing is always there, though less painful than at first. I have looked at that love and been honest with myself about it. It made me who I am, warts and all. This reflection on a mother’s love has led me to think about how it molded my life. I am a pretty good father because I have seen the gaps and worked to fill them with accepting love.
And then, I read Isaiah 49 and it struck me that the Eternal has always had those loving arms wrapped around me. In that chapter it talks about would a mother ever abandon her child. And then this idea: even if she would, I never will! Now, consider that. I could (and did a few times) disappoint my mom. No matter what I do, I cannot win God’s disapproval. No matter what, God wraps those arms of unceasing love around me.
If your life experience was of a mother (or father) that was not there to wrap those loving arms around you, that is okay. The Mother of All creation has always had her arms around you and will never, ever let go. Today, feel those loving arms wrapped around you. As in the picture of the last supper, lean of the breast of the only Lover of yours soul you have ever needed.