“The past lives within the present, and our ancestors breathe through our children.” -Elif Safak
I had a wonderful, full Mother’s Day weekend, between spending time at UUFM, sprucing up the landscaping at my grandparent’s home with my mom, and enjoying quality time with my child. Then, when I finally had a little bit of my own time to slow down on Sunday night, I felt inspired to write this. I was thinking a lot of all of the people I know who likely felt some pain around the day, and I decided to sit with that a while. The most traumatic parts of our lives often won’t make logical sense, and yet, we are here, living marvelous and complex circumstances, coping in the ways we know how, and the grief and the gratitude continue to stretch and grow us…
In my heart lives a prayer for each of us to know the love, nurturance, and spirit of mothers, especially those who have known fractures, abuse, pain, and complications with their relationships, those whose mothers have not gotten to live as full of lives as we hoped, and those who have experienced the depths of grief in the loss of children and pregnancies. May each of you feel seen, valued, honored, and revered today and always.
May we remember generations back, the thousands of birth givers that walked this Earth before us and how through them, their pregnancies, labors, births, and care, our lives were made possible. Make it known that we are our ancestors’ prayer and grant us the wisdom, discernment, intention, care, and perseverance to work and play in ways that honor and enliven their hearts’ songs. I wish for more of us to practice stillness, surrender, and presence often to sense the way we are still held by the ancient, wise, and well ones.
May we embody the love we seek and know how abundant it is when we keep choosing it.
(Photo is a throwback to me and newborn Aedan enjoying the hammock in our backyard. There is less than a month until he turns 3-years-old.)
Upcoming Activities:
Intergenerational Potluck and Game Night, Wednesday, May 21st, 7:30-9pm
(*This has been postponed to next week due to lack of RSVPs, and the timeframe has been adapted to not conflict with contemplative worship. Thanks for understanding! Please consider registering below.)
https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/94a17e4763
Social Justice Group Gathering: Tea and Conversation, Saturday, May 17th, 4:30-6pm
https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/d6d4a7
Intergenerational Hiking at Seven Mile Creek Park, Sunday, May 18th, at 1pm
https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/2cf88a238459647648
Intergenerational Art-Making Night, Wednesday, May 28th, 6:30-8pm