On the Minister's Mind

There is a certain way that I stand with my arms folded. When I catch myself standing that way, I am suddenly aware that I am standing exactly the way my mother stands. When I am excited, I find that I rub my face just like she does.  Those who know both of us well can probably point out many other ways that I have picked up my mother’s mannerisms. Genetics are astounding!  Sometimes I am amused when I show up like my mother, and of course, sometimes I am less than amused. 

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, we have a fresh opportunity to look at the relationship we share with our mother, or the memories of the relationship. We can ask ourselves some very big questions. What is the spiritual purpose of this relationship in my life? If my mom and I were on this journey by choice together, why did we choose each other?  What is unfinished in our relationship? What have we completed together? And, important to this week’s lesson – what values did my mother teach me, either consciously or unconsciously?

My mother is one of the most resilient, resourceful, accepting, and loving people I know. She taught me the values of honesty, lifelong learning, kindness, and family, and many more, which I have totally embraced. She also highly values some things that I don’t hold as tightly, such as security, stability, and safety. (Case in point – my current broken ankle!)

Over our lifetime together, my mother and I have learned to give space to each other when our values clash, always seeking to understand the motivation behind the baffling choices we watch each other make. It hasn’t been easy, but we remain committed. 

On the other side of the Mother’s Day celebration, I have my daughter. We too have some matching values and some that seem incompatible at times. Is she a “mini-me”? Not at all, but that doesn’t seem to run in our family! Thankfully, she has also embraced some of the same values shared by her grandmother and me – honesty, lifelong learning, kindness and family, as well as others. 

My mother-daughter relationships in both directions on the family tree are so very meaningful in my life. My belief system supports the idea that we chose each other as companions for this lifetime. Spirit shows up as both beautiful women, and I am grateful.

I am also blessed by others who stand close-by on the stage of my life as mother and daughter figures, who I also believe my soul attracted to me, to lovingly support and receive loving support from. Mothering is not reserved for blood relatives; of that I am certain. 

I give thanks for all the mothering energy surrounding me today and always. Please join me in that prayer of thanksgiving!