Since homeschooling my kids this year, I’ve read a lot more poetry than I ever have in my whole life. Before this year, I would have counted greeting cards as the extent of my exposure to poetry. But since reading children’s poetry, I’ve been drawn to the art form. I love the way that poetry flows with words and thoughts, making me feel and see the ideas expressed. I love hearing my kids read their original poetry and see the silly rhythms or beautiful stories they create. This is my attempt at poetry honoring mothers. I have several mothers in my life that I dearly love. The mother that birthed and raised me, the mother that birthed and raised my husband, the aunts that spoke life and truth into my life throughout my childhood and beyond, the grandmas that cherished me and my children, the mentors that spiritually mothered me during times of learning, growing, and suffering. The phrase “it takes a village” rings true in my life as I reflect on all the women that have invested into my life and this is my gift to them.
A Mother’s Day Poem
The word “mother” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone
For some, it’s a word of pain, abandonment, dreams unfulfilled
For some, it’s abuse, messy conversations, closeness with none
For me, it’s different. Full of peace, hope, love, and security
A place of safety and protection, a place to belong
A relationship from birth that is whole and complete, full of purity
I was raised by a mother who loved me deeply and passionately
Offering me a place to grow and learn and remind me how loved I am
I was raised by a mother who spoke life and shelter, filling me with hope
I was told I was loved and created with purpose, intended before birth
That I was unique and had something special from God for the world
I was reminded often that God loved me and I grew, seeing my worth
As I grew I had aunts that each gave me a piece of themselves for my own
They taught me to swim and to garden and to love eating pie
They defined for me family and cousins and being fully known
As a teen, I had moments of doubt and struggle, and pain
Moments of missing God’s goodness and His plan for my life
My spiritual mothers stepped in to remind me I wasn’t created in vain
My mentors spent time speaking God’s love over my soul
Teaching me God’s promises and giving testimony of God’s plan
They showed me God can be trusted and his plans are good and whole
As an adult, I gained a second mother, a woman strong and brave
She raised a boy into a man and sent him out into the world
She taught him to be kind and gentle, and then watched as he chose me over her
She let me take him as my own, walking away from her as he walked to me
He bridged us together, and she loved me unique and beautiful
We built a new family, and she loved us fierce and strong, perfectly
A generation of grandmas, I grew up knowing each one close and dear
As a child, I saw them love my parents and us grandkids, from close and from afar
As a mother, I saw them hold and cherish each of my children, a privilege to see
We moved away from family when our babies were just born
I had friends who became family and stepped into our life
They mothered me with love and support, helped out when I was tired and worn
I’ve had mothers in my life from my first breath, even today
Dear souls that God has brought to me, for a reason and for a time
I see their mark on my life, used by God to shape and make me, his piece of clay
My life is a tapestry of the work and investment of others
God’s gift to me, sharing my moments in times of need or rejoicing
I praise God for my mentors, my guides, my friends, my mothers
Abigail Denton 