Art Heals: Mothering

On this coming Sunday, we are all children.  For a single day, whether we take note of it or not, that is one obvious, inescapable truth that ethnicity, geography, gender, politics, religion cannot erase.   Some of us still have our mother’s presence in our lives, others have only memories.  For all of us, those are the ties that bind, not only to our families, but to everyone in the world.  And right now, we need mothering more than ever.
But mothering comes in many guises.  Care is not a pie.  No one need get the last slice.  Care is an infinite spring, with life-saving waters for all to drink.  Fathers are mothers. Husbands are mothers. Siblings are mothers. Nurses and doctors are mothers. Teachers are mothers.  Friends are mothers.  Strangers are mothers.  Stepping outside ourselves to listen to someone, to soothe someone, to make someone laugh is mothering.
So, honor all the mothers in your life, give them a call, give them a break, give them a heartfelt thank you for being in your life. And know that no matter your ethnicity, geography, gender, politics or religion, your kindness, your tolerance, your generosity, your availability to others is mothering at its most important.
On this coming Sunday, we are all mothers.
This haunting image by Qais Al-Sindy poignantly expresses the burden and love of mothers.  Art Heals.