On this final post during the month of May in honor of all Mothers, I have chosen to talk about one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that most mothers are unanimously endowed with - from the moment they hold their new born child to the day he/she enters kindergarten, graduates high school, becomes a parent or enters some other field of choice – this gift is the gift of joy, one of the greatest fruits of the Spirit.
Motherhood is undoubtably one of the hardest jobs on earth, at times one of the most under-appreciated roles, a physically and mentally weary and often lonely position. And sometimes it can be the most suffering role, as Mary the mother of Jesus could attest to, and so many mothers before and since.
What stands out though, what we remember the most when we think of our own mothers, is not the agony, the pain, the faults and failings, but the way they stood unwavering at their posts, by their charges (children) and never gave up, never stopped loving, never stopped caring. This inner joy that transcended the hardships could only come from the Spirit as they made the choice (constant choices) to step outside of themselves, giving purpose to their pain and embracing their role as Mother and caregiver.
So it is with great gratitude and love I embrace my own Mother in thought and word for the gift of life, the gift of joy that was born first into this heart of mine because of Her and finally transcended into the fruit of joy in my own life. It is my hope that the spirit of joy will be born into the lives of all children whose Mothers chose to give them life and then embrace the call.
~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES