Life Matters - May 11, 2022

Mother's Day 2022 was a Sunday very much like many other May Mother’s Day Sundays in South Dakota. Winter and early spring calving behind us. Shoveling or otherwise moving snow no longer necessary. The cold, bitter winds of winter have given away to balmy spring days with the promise in the air be the sound of singing birds, the smell of damp and earth, the grass turning green and leaf buds appearing on trees that stood bare all winter. Even the conifers look greener. And relieved?  

What better time of year to honor mothers and motherhood? Mother, in whom, hidden, the seed grows and one day mature is enough to be delivered from its protective environment and to be battered by the hazards of life here on earth. But, newly born, we are still helpless, in a life-or-death desperate need for a mother. The comforting present of mother is protecting warmth, her cooing voice as she fed us, created a bonding that is deep and lasting. A bonding that began in the womb and continues to grow as God designed it to grow. 

Unless interrupted and severed by unnatural means. Or by death. And even death is at times unnatural. Not following the natural order in the cycle of life and death. Violence has, in many cases, taken over the human heart. When life could no longer be controlled by other means, many resort to violence against their fellow citizens. Sometimes violence against their own bodies. And in recent decades, to count the millions, violence against the babies in their wombs. Where are the fathers? Who should be the protectors of innocent life. And protectors of the one bearing and nurturing the resulting seed of their passion. Passion; for we cannot always call it love. 

But whether passionate love or passion without love, responsibility for the baby falls on those responsible for its conception. That is God decree, not mine. God's word never fails, it stands forever. 

There was a Supreme Court leak. Row v. Wade is set to be overturned. “Pro-choicers” take to the streets. Women picketing for the “lawful” right to kill, or to have killed, the babies in their wombs. The rhetoric is vile, sometimes hateful towards conservative leaning SCOTUS, at times it turns violent, threatening graffiti is spray painted on the buildings of pro-life institutions. 

There's a common thread running through the ungodly protests and intimidation tactics going on this Mother's Day 2022. It is an ironically blatant disrespect for motherhood. A disregard of its beauty. But more than that, a disrespect and disregard for God Himself, the designer and creator of motherhood in all of its beauty, responsibility, and giving love. 

Though she seems so now, my mother was not perfect. Neither am I. And in my imperfection, I was not ready to give up her lap, that felt so perfect, as a little brother Paul took over the cozy, comforting spot when I was only a year and a half old.  I'm told I stood next to mom in her rocking chair and watched as she nursed, burped, and rocked the little guy and then I interrupted the calm setting with a forceful “doom babih” (dumb baby) one day when a little extra moved at the intrusion of “my space.” And then, by the time he outgrew mom’s lap, I was too big to reclaim it.  

Which I became OK with, Paul and I became, and remain, as close as two peas in a pod. Or, like two hot peppers next to each other whenever the case may be. I'll take the peas! 

My mother has gone on to her reward and I often ask God to give her a special blessing because of her love for me/us. For those of you out there who still have your mother, I encourage you to bless her while you still can face to face. And let her know that you love her. I tend to take mine for granted, but no one else can fill the place of Mother. May we love them as they loved us. Life matters!