Below is a rendition of The Song of The Seed by Macrina Wiederkehr
Life unfolds A petal at a time, slowly.
The beauty of the process is crippled when I try to hurry growth. Life has its inner rhythm which must be respected. It cannot be rushed or hurried.
Like daylight stepping out of darkness, like morning creeping out of night, life unfolds slowly a petal at a time
God’s call unfolds A Word at a time, slowly.
A disciple is not made in a hurry. Slowly I become like the One to whom I am listening.
Life unfolds a petal at a time like you and I becoming followers of Jesus, discipled into a new way of living deeply and slowly.
Be patient with life’s unfolding petals. If you hurry the bud, it withers.
Each unfolding is a teaching a movement of grace filled with silent pauses, breathtaking beauty, tears and heartaches.
Life unfolds a petal at a time deeply and slowly
By Macrina Wiederkehr
If you enjoyed this poem, “The Song of the Seed” by Macrina Wiederkehr, I highly recommend learning more about her and her work here: http://www.macrinawiederkehr.com/
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I’m not shouting, “I’m clean living.” I’m whispering, “I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.”
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble And need Christ to be my guide.
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak And need His strength to carry on.
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess.
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible But, God believes I’m worth it.
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name.
When I say…”I am a Christian.” I’m not holier than thou. I’m just a simple sinner Who received God’s grace somehow.
One of my favorite poems by one of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou. To learn more about the life and work of Maya Angelou, visit this website: https://www.mayaangelou.com/
Maybe you could bare your shoulders, lend that jacket that you’re over to the man who’s standing there waving cars down at the corner. You know he’s only getting older and Christmas is getting closer. Give before Thanksgiving’s over ’cause it’s only getting colder.
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh said it best, “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”
Too often, the cultural conversation around new motherhood focuses on “bouncing back.” When are you going to fit into your clothes again? When are you going back to work? When are you going to return to the person you were before you had the baby? And the answer is, you’re not. But the good news is, you’re not supposed to.
The term Matrescence, coined by Dana Raphael, Ph.D. (1973), remains a largely unexplored area of study that refers to this process of becoming a mother. The developmental passage where a woman transitions through pregnancy and birth, to the postnatal period and beyond. Of course, we all know that during pregnancy, a woman’s body is rapidly changing, and inside a tiny life form is taking shape to be a completely unique and individual human being. But what we often forget, is that the woman herself is also rapidly changing and taking shape. Not just in a physical sense, but in a bio-psycho-social-political and spiritual way. Yes, the mother gives birth to a child. But the child also gives birth to a mother.
I recently gave birth to my first child and I’ve spent the last twelve months researching and documenting my experience of matrescence. As I scoured the internet, I was amazed to find that not a single, descriptive, first-hand account of matrescence exists. Until now.
I’ve divided the poem into five parts, one for each of the three trimesters, one for labor and delivery, and one for what’s often referred to as, “The Missing Fourth Trimester,” or postpartum.
My hope is that women will see themselves in these words. That women who have yet to embark on the journey of motherhood, will have a roadmap of sorts, helping them to better understand what support they may need along the way. I love how the experience of pregnancy and motherhood is so unique for each individual, and yet so universal at the same time.
I can’t catch a break. // Everything falls apart without me. // I’m grateful to have a family that needs me. // It feels so good to be needed. // I have no time to get anything done. // My to do list just keeps growing. // It’s so nice to be present with my baby. // Everything else can wait. // I’ve never known a joy like this. // I’m so tired I could cry. // Her needs are so constant. // One day she won’t need me. // I hate how fast time is going. // It’s so wonderful to watch her grow. // I don’t want to miss a single moment. // All I want is a moment to myself. // I killed it today! // Today nearly killed me.
When we’re young, the world is our oyster. Hurt and humiliation are two things we don’t fear. Imagination is our kingdom and every moment counts. Ah yes, when we’re young, creativity abounds.
As we grow up they say, “Fall in line! Get good grades! Be on time! Find a job! Pay your bills!” All things that stifle creative wills.
When we’re young, our sense of presence lasts. There’s no anxiety about the future. No dwelling in the past. It’s this innate presence that lets our creative juices flow but we block it and build dams around it every year we grow.
Now I can hear the sound, traveling through your eyes of broken dreams and emptiness as your inner child cries,
“Gimme ink and paper, crayons, brushes, and blank space. Gimme songs to sing and lightening bugs to chase. Gimme wood to carve, clay to mold, and games to play. I’m jumpy and I’m restless. Can I come out today?”
Though I’m saddened when you make mistakes, My heart is joyful when you seek My face. For I did not come to help the morally right, but the fallen and broken are dear in My sight. The closer you come to Me, the closer I AM. Though distractions are plenty, so is My hand. Reaching out for you daily, My peace is there for the taking. So if you’re tired of waiting, come find rest in I AM.
