A Mothering Sunday Poem by Katie Barnett
A beautiful Mothering Sunday poem by community member Katie Barnett. After a tough year, Katie beautifully draws so many into what is a poem, and a prayer. Please do share with anyone you think it might bless.
Mother’s Day 2021
It’s time to reflect on the “wonderful” mums,
Who jog every day with the flattest of tums,
Who bake twice a week, cakes lighter than air,
Have immaculate nails and beautiful hair,
Well-behaved kids, politely in tow,
Impeccably dressed with cheeks all aglow,
Spotless houses, scrubbed every day,
And a limescale-free bathroom, fit for display.
Oh, who am I kidding, what have we missed?
Let’s celebrate mother’s who really exist,
Women who juggle their kids and their jobs,
Who have scummy sinks and sauce-splattered hobs!
Women who take it as a victory,
If the beds are made and there’s something for tea.
Let’s celebrate those who keep treading water,
For the sake of their son and the sake of their daughter.
Let’s remember the mums, exhausted and stressed,
Feeling their homes, minds and lives are a mess!
Remember to tell them they’re doing okay,
And remind them that everyone feels this way.
Shout out to the mums who mother alone,
Without someone else to vent to or moan,
Tirelessly rearing their squabbling mob,
With no one to say, ‘You’ve done a good job’.
Here’s to the mums, the carers and grannies,
Aunts, cousins and nieces, the sisters and nannies,
The God-mums and best friends who love and who care,
Though no blood relation, the heart-love’s still there.
And let’s think on the ladies who have become,
A faithful mentor, a spiritual mum,
How grateful we’ve been to know women like you,
To be blessed by your prayers as our children grew.
To any woman who’s loved another,
You are counted as a mother.
And let’s not ignore the mums-yet-to-be,
To the ones who are aching for pregnancy,
The disappointed, with empty cribs,
The ones who dream of dribbly bibs,
Let’s think of the mothers who’ve loved and lost,
Who daily are hurting and counting the cost,
The mums estranged or disconnected,
Who feel unloved or perhaps, neglected.
We remember you all, in your pain,
And pray that you will smile again.
Now to the mums who feel weak and flawed,
To the ones who feel a Mother’s Day fraud,
You’re all amazing, one way or another,
Because to someone, quite simply, you’re mother.
Let’s raise up the women who put on a show,
Who look strong and happy, but feel sad and low,
The ones who find it hard to admit,
That life is a struggle with hit after hit.
For the sake of their children, they hold back the tears,
Quieten their worries, hushing their fears,
To these women, we want to say,
Jesus walks with you each step of the way.
And let’s not forget, with the year that we’ve had,
Many will be feeling especially sad,
A year of yearning, missing out on so much,
No hugs or kisses, no loving touch,
No chats in the kitchen over a brew,
No time together to talk things through.
Grandmas longing for a cuddle,
Finding life a lonely struggle,
We pray that though you are apart,
You’ll feel God’s peace within your heart.
So ladies, we come in all shapes and sizes,
Mothering in different ways with different guises,
But one thing’s consistent and one thing is true,
Whatever your role - we appreciate you!
It’s not about laundry or housework or baking,
Sewing or scrubbing or costume-making,
It’s just about love, doing what you can do,
Being perfectly happy with imperfect you,
Look to Jesus, in that direction,
For in Christ alone do we find our perfection.
So be of good cheer, and do rest assured,
You’re loved and treasured, prized and adored.
For there’s no greater honour to love one another,
In the way that a child is loved by their mother.
