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05/03/2016
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day Shirley Jenner, Lecturer at the University of Manchester.
Last on
Sat 5 Mar 201605:43
BBC Radio 4
Returning in Memory - Home
Shops everywhere are promoting various “Mothers Day” offerings: flowers, cards, chocolates. Sorry, if a sudden alarm bell is ringing–yes, it is Mothers Day tomorrow!
Historically, Mothering Sunday was an opportunity for people who worked “in service” to return home to their ‘mother’ church in the middle of Lent. It was a chance for sons and daughters working away from home to spend time with their mothers.
Today, Mothering Sunday can still create space to return. However, for many of us returning home is difficult, we live too far apart, or demands of family and working life weigh too great for us to be there in person. For some of us returning home is just too painful – and Mothers Day may highlight tensions within the family. Some of our mothers are no longer with us.
My own mother died two years ago, so I will be returning to her in memory. I’ll think of how she was as I grew up: so much of her “home-making” was unappreciated and frequently resisted by all 4 of us. She made us laugh. She made us cry.
When I became a mother I began to understand my mother in a fresh light. Those frustrating rules (we often broke), were meant to keep us safe. Those boundary lines (we often crossed), were the cordons of love.
Lord God. Thank you that we can return in person, or in memory to those who have loved us down the years. As return may we be surprised by joy, and discover new depths to your unfailing love. Amen
Historically, Mothering Sunday was an opportunity for people who worked “in service” to return home to their ‘mother’ church in the middle of Lent. It was a chance for sons and daughters working away from home to spend time with their mothers.
Today, Mothering Sunday can still create space to return. However, for many of us returning home is difficult, we live too far apart, or demands of family and working life weigh too great for us to be there in person. For some of us returning home is just too painful – and Mothers Day may highlight tensions within the family. Some of our mothers are no longer with us.
My own mother died two years ago, so I will be returning to her in memory. I’ll think of how she was as I grew up: so much of her “home-making” was unappreciated and frequently resisted by all 4 of us. She made us laugh. She made us cry.
When I became a mother I began to understand my mother in a fresh light. Those frustrating rules (we often broke), were meant to keep us safe. Those boundary lines (we often crossed), were the cordons of love.
Lord God. Thank you that we can return in person, or in memory to those who have loved us down the years. As return may we be surprised by joy, and discover new depths to your unfailing love. Amen
Broadcast
- Sat 5 Mar 201605:43BBC Radio 4
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