Blessing for a Mother-to-be

This was a blessing I wrote for a baby shower for a friend of mine. But I think it's really for all of us mamas out there.

I like to think

And I believe some ancient stories agree with me,

That at the beginning of all things,

Before there was water and sky,

Before there was darkness and light,

Before the earth was formless and void,

There was first - the Mother.

One who imagined more.

One who longed for more.

One, whose generous and creative spirit,

Lovingly brought forth that something more - new life.

And, I know you aren’t asking me per say,

But if you were to ask me,

I like to think

That connected to this Mother,

In a special bond of love and knowing and understanding

Sealed by the sharing of secret winks, the exchange of knowing glances, and the swapping of a well-timed understanding smile,

Are all who mother

In this world.

So from this mother –

to you –

and to all who share in this journey of mothering –

a word of blessing:

May you know deep in your soul that you are enough.

May you offer yourself grace upon grace.

May your practice of mothering mend places you didn’t know were broken and heal places you didn’t know were sick.

May you be fierce and tender.

May you know when to hold on, and when to let go.

May you remember that you yourself matter. Mother or not. Just because you do.

May you be full.

May you be the mother you long to have.

May this journey of mothering open in you a more expansive love.

May your mothering be the generous, creative kind that continues to bring forth life.

May you always have another mama on speed dial. And another one. And even one more, just in case.

May the community of those who mother encircle you in every hardship so that you are not alone in it.

Whatever you imagine or whatever you long for in this journey,

may your creative and generous spirit bring it forth,

so that this new life –

yours, baby's, and your family’s together,

will be all that and more.

May it be so. In the name of that first Mother, that some call God. Amen.