An ode to mothers

By Pallavi Tyagi

 

Navratras are days dedicated to goddess Durga or Maa Durga, as we devotionally call her. And then there are our mothers, no less loving, mighty and mystifying than the goddess herself. How about devoting the nine navrataras to celebrate motherhood in all its glory…?

 

The subject of mothers and motherhood is closely related to the subject of our spiritual selves. Most of us believe in uniformity and oneness of the God and the same mantra applies to mothers all around the globe - Different women, different lives, different challenges, different beliefs, but all are mothers - joined by the same string of passion and emotions. Isn’t the resemblance and uniqueness simply divine?

 

The job of mother most often plays itself out not on the lofty levels of Hallmark splendor, but rather in the trenches of day-to-day life. The greatness of a mother lies somewhere between the vegetable sandwiches and the teaching of life lessons. Some days will be a placid and lazy cruise down the river, others will be a wild and furious ride through the rapids. This Navratri let’s celebrate the nine facets the divinity in our lives - our mothers…

 

Thank mom for her ‘Love’

“…And I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know” - Mitch Albom. Mothers are angels in disguise sent from God to watch on us. Their love is made from the strongest substance. Their love doesn’t give up, doesn’t have a swelled head and doesn’t force itself on others. It isn’t jealous, is always forgiving and is highly indispensable. A mother’s love takes on everything, even if it can’t carry it all.

 

Celebrate mom’s ‘Compassion’

“I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life” - Abraham Lincoln. In the Buddhist tradition, compassion is defined as a mother’s love for her children. It is unconditional and constant, regardless of the chaotic conditions which arise in the complexity of family life. No matter how much we hurt and irritate and don’t appreciate our mothers, they still love us no matter what. They accept us for who we are even though we aren’t necessarily the best people we could be.

 

Salute mom’s protectiveness

“If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.” - Robert Brault. There is within most mothers, an unconditional, almost desperate, love for their child that begins often before birth and never ends. This love is universal and transcends borders, cultures, and continents. From cases involving abuse to kidnapping, there are many actual cases wherein they have even killed to protect their kids.

 

Like a fierce mama bear protecting her cubs, many mothers are willing to risk personal suffering, injury, or loss to keep their children safe. There are many heart-trenching stories of mothers going an extra mile to protect their children. While vacationing, a lady and her son were knocked into the ocean by a gigantic wave. Before being swept away, the mother managed to push her son towards the rescuers, saving his life.

 

A Polish mother endured 75 days of labor — upside down! After losing one of her triplets to premature birth, her only option was to endure the position to allow her other two babies to develop further and improve their chances for a successful birth. The stories go on and on. Mothers who love their children so much they will do whatever it takes to protect them.

 

Three cheers for mom the ‘Provider’

Every day, mothers encounter and overcome new challenges large and small at home, at the office, and on the road. When babies are born they have basic needs, food, water, a clean diaper, a warm bed, and tons of love. And when they grow up, the basic needs multiply three-fold but ‘tons of love’ remains constant. From a simple snack to a complex school project to a complicated relationship…don’t we run to moms for every little thing?

 

In present times, most of the wives share equally with their husbands in supporting their families. So it seems mom is still doing just what she has always been expected to do: look after the house and the children. She still holds the values associated with the hearth: honesty and an open heart. Only now she has begun to pay half the bills

 

Dedicated to my mother, my 'Teacher'

“A good mother is worth hundreds of schoolmasters.” - George Herbert. A mother is a child's first teacher. Our mothers teach us values, our mothers teach us how to behave, our mothers inspire us and our mothers encourage us to do our best. According to a renowned author, Sidney Ledson, "Whenever the question of educating children is raised, thoughts usually turn to school and to schoolteachers. But mothers are, and have always been, their children's first and most important teacher. What mothers teach, or fail to teach, intentionally or unintentionally, profoundly influences their children's entire lives." 

 

A child first learns from the mother’s state of consciousness while in the womb. Everything the mother consciously experience, her state of mind, her relationship with the world and her rapport with her parents, are all transmitted to her child and become the foundation of the child’s subconscious, which is the root of his/her personality. Home is the first school and mother is the first teacher; she is the builder of our characters and minds.

 

Adore your source of 'Inspiration'

“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” - Marion C. Garretty. Since children learn by example, mothers are the best role models. For most of us, when someone asks, who motivates us to reach our goal – Mom is the first name that explodes in our mind. When a mother stands up for what she believes in, it gives her child strength and confidence to be an independent individual.

 

Children learn what they live, so when they are exposed to unconditional love, support, and a good role model, that is who they become. A mother will show respect to her family, friends, and strangers; by showing all of them respect she teaches her children to be respectful. A mother will always be responsible for her actions and admit mistakes when she makes them. Every child needs a good role model to look up to and a mother is just that.

 

Value the 'Fighter'

“The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” - Barbara Kingsolver. Mothers may seem just like ordinary people, but they are really super heroes in disguise! We all would agree that motherhood might be full of precious moments and amazing experiences but it is also one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

 

Mom’s can’t really afford to bog down by life because she always feels responsible for her kids. A mother provides the emotional support that her child needs; she is always there when her child may need a kiss on an injury, or simply an extra hug as they get off the bus. Without the support of a mother a child may squander through life never living up to his or her full potential.

 

Show gratitude for her Wisdom

“Where there is a mother in the home, matters go well.” - Amos Bronson Alcott. In fact, when God wanted to give us a picture of what real wisdom looks like; He chose the portrait of a mom. A mother, just through her words, transfer so much to her children - patience, humor, imagination, creativity, persistence, taking risks, enthusiasm, unconditional love, blind faith and positive attitude.

 

Celebrate the 'Friend' in mom

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all." - Oliver Wendell Holmes. She is our first friend, the truest friend we have for as long as she lives. When trials come our way and we find ourselves in the midst of adversity, she is our anchor. When friends desert us, she still cleaves to us. When clouds of darkness surround us, with her wise counsel she dissipates them. A mother is surely her child’s friend for life!

 

My mom, my hero!

Many working mothers effortlessly juggle many jobs and wear many hats at the same time. For them, there never seems to be enough hours in a day. Although some of them are plagued by guilt at the thought of untidy houses and unkempt gardens they are the real-life heroes!

 

 

 

Source: An ode to mothers