It’s mother’s day! I recently got a tattoo of a mama and baby on my left forearm. Over the last couple years I’ve been permitting myself to think of the feminine side of God. A long time ago this was not permitted. But my oh my, how does ones understanding of God get messed up if your experience with fathers and men is mostly negative?
Allowing myself to entertain the idea that God has motherly characteristics has coincided nicely with my healing from the harsh, violent God that I’d known most of my Christian life. What if our image of God was a mother holding a baby in a way only mothers can? What if we allowed ourselves to be like those newborns crying out for a comfort and are met by the warmth of a mother?
About two years ago I let myself believe in God the Mother. It was shortly thereafter that Beth called me at work on August 2nd, our anniversary, and told me tearfully and excitedly that she was pregnant.
I watched Beth carry Kade for nine months, displaying strength, presence, awareness. I watched her breath and scream during the early morning hours of April 17th. I was blown away by the energy, the determination, the focus of birthing. Then there was the most divine moment, of first touch, of connection shortly after 6:00am on that day. I’ve watched her nourish, care, love, and comfort Kade for the last year.
How can I not see God in this?
