For those who "Mother"

Mother's day is here, and it got me thinking about all the people who epitomize motherhood, but are not "birth" mothers, and I realized that being a mother is so much more than having given birth. Come to think about it, some of the most amazing moms and mother figures fall into a beautiful, diverse mosaic of inspired souls who have lovingly taken on the role. For me, to mother means to do our best to love, nurture, guide, protect, inspire, and empower another.

Being a mother does not come with a manual, and although it is blessed with many beautiful rewards, they come as we make mistakes, grow as we go, and come to appreciate the poetic nature of the role. It is a journey filled with tenderness, tears, tough decisions and reciprocal teaching. It is about listening, having tremendous patience, and learning to be present for someone else. It is an emotional roller coaster ride that brings great highs and lows as we experience our deepest joys, fears, hopes, and faith. When we are really fortunate, it can be about creating a powerful connection in which we love, and are loved, unconditionally. I feel very grateful to be blessed with experiencing this beautiful bond with my daughters.

Being a mother for some may begin with giving birth, but for many, it does not. At its core, it is about loving and nurturing the light in someone else.

So this Mother's Day, no matter the circumstance of your "mothering," you are to be commended. Thank you for  bravely opening your heart and sharing your love. I don't think there is anything more important you could be doing, for I don't know of anyone, at any age, who is not transformed by love ... especially a mother's love, for it is woven in in to the fabric of our hearts forever.

So for all of you who "mother,"

Happy Mother's Day!

With tremendous love and gratitude for my own mother, and all those who have knowingly and unknowingly "mothered" me.

P Bowman 

Gifts of Light ... Saying Goodbye to our Mothers

 

How do we say goodbye to our mothers...

If we are wise, we won't,

we will grieve deeply,

and over time, come to peace

with the depth of what we've lost,

and, all that we have gained...

we will long for the unconditional love we took for granted,

and with time, feel it's reassuring warmth again...

we will count our blessings

for the courage and strength we

learned through example

for the sacrifices selflessly made,

and the amazing resilience that was gift wrapped in smiles,

We will honor the lessons learned,

 smile when her words

randomly pop into our heads,

and savor the bittersweet memories that bring us joy,

We won't say goodbye, we'll move forward,

we'll honor her memory with pride,

knowing that she will always be 

 an integral part of who we are,

 a gift of light 

 we will carry in our hearts forever...

A friend of mine recently lost her mother, and although I never met her mom, I enjoyed hearing stories about her and had come to admire her, for like most mothers, she exuded extraordinary strength, courage and resilience. I know what it is like to lose a mother and I have felt the weight of many of my friend's losses, as my own echoed back in my heart. This poem is a tribute to all the mothers who have passed on, and to all of us who are left behind, longing for one more moment, while so very grateful for all the ones we were blessed with.  

love and light,

penny bowman

Love is always Calling

                                                          

                                                          Love is Always Calling

For a very long time I have been drawn to heart shapes, but until recently, I never gave it much thought. I just accepted that I could not pass by one without taking a look, which inevitably resulted in me either adding to my collection, or being slightly disappointed that I didn't. As a matter of fact, I spotted a heart shaped rock on the beach today and, yes, I brought it home with me. ( love it when they are free) I added it to a rather eclectic collection of hearts lovingly scattered around my home, all of which are my favorite, lol, and bring a little sigh and a smile when I look at them.

 Initially, I didn't think much of my preoccupation, but when I realized it wasn't so much the heart shapes themselves that I was drawn to, but the feelings they evoked, I began to understand their attraction. They were a sweet reminder from the universe that love is who we are, and when we connect with love, it makes us feel good. Like a magnet, love is always pulling us towards our likeness, and whether that likeness is in a symbolic form, or the joy we feel in the company of other people, animals, or nature, it doesn't really matter. Like an invisible thread that weaves her magic throughout our lives, love draws us in, unites us, and provides beautiful opportunities not only for us to connect, but to feel the inspiration, joy and peace that connection brings. Miraculously, love is literally and figuratively always calling out to us with little reminders and opportunities for us to give, receive, and appreciate her.

So the next time love calls out to you, when you get that urge to pick up a heart shaped rock, call someone you love, hang out with your dog, be with friends and family, or get out in nature, embrace the opportunity to enjoy more love in your life, and answer the call! Your heart will be glad you did.

love and light my friends,

Penny

Love's Call

I call out to you,

with the chickadees song

the lure of  peaceful waters,

and sweet kindnesses,

can you hear me?

I call out to you

so you might connect

via the common thread 

we weave

and know in your heart

who we are

is one and the same,

we are love

my darlings,

we are love...

love and light,

Penny