Woman

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.

One day he asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

GOD replied, “Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

“But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy.”

“Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.”

“And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t know the language that men talk?”

“Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

“Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?”

“Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

“Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.

And the child in a hurry asked softly, “Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

“Your angel’s name is of no importance, you will call your angel: ‘Mommy‘.”

Mother
Love, strength and comfort,
That’s what a mother is all about.
That whiff,
That all pervading scent of cleanliness,
Mingled with sweat -
Sweat of her labour of love,
The scent that binds us,
With sweet silken threads,
Never to be separated
Till wilfully we choose to leave,
Not fully comprehending,
What the gently snap of those threads means.
Then we are alone.
Weaning.
Decisions right or wrong,
Relationships new and exciting,
Our own slips and indiscretions,
Are ours to inherit - alone.
However, she might still be there,
To console, advise and reassure.
What if she is no more there?
And then what?
Just the memory of her quiet strength
Would sustain us and provide
Us with the strength we need to sojourn.