2024.05.12 Mothers' Day, Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

I pray this prayer from John 17, one of Jesus's farewell discourses to his friends and disciples, as I lay myself down to sleep each night:   Dear God, bless my children, Bev, Jill, Rob, John, and stepchildren, Matthew Mark and Honor, and grandchildren all—Gillian, Isabella, Ali, Luke, Lucia,Thomas, Harrison, Will, Eliza, Brianjohnson, Phoebe, Dylan.

I consecrate  myself to Thee for their sake, that they too may be consecrated in Thy Word—Thy Word is Truth. AMEN.   (John 17 paraphrase)   

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“The world needs to look to mothers and women to find peace, to break out of the spirals of violence and hatred, and to regain a human gaze and a seeing heart.”  Pope Francis

And various godmothers, friends, known and unknown, of any gender, including animals, along the way.  AMEN.

2014.05.11 Divine Mothering, Psalm 23

In honor of Mother’s Day and the mothering nature of Godde’s spirit—tender and bold—in all things, I share this beautiful prayer psalm written by Bobby McFerrin, vocalist and poet, born 1950.  By mothering I mean that capacity given to all humanity to hold close, to nurture, to guide and guard, empower, and to feed.

Julian of Norwich, mystic and saint, wrote of Jesus Christ thus: “Jesus, our beloved mother, who feeds us with his most precious body and blood. . .”


McFerrin wrote this version of the psalm and dedicated it to his own mother.  You can hear him chant it on YouTube (google his name of course:)—or click:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fzWq-d8jU    I promise you it will make you weep.


The 23rd Psalm
By Bobby McFerrin

The Lord is my Shepard, I have all I need,
She makes me lie down in green meadows,
Beside the still waters, She will lead.

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs,
She leads me in a path of good things,
And fills my heart with songs.

Even though I walk, through a dark & dreary land,
There is nothing that can shake me,
She has said She won't forsake me,
I'm in her hand.

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes,
She anoints my head with oil,
And my cup overflows.

Surely, surely goodness & kindness will follow me,
All the days of my life,
And I will live in her house,
Forever, forever & ever.

Glory be to our Mother, & Daughter,
And to the Holy of Holies,
As it was in the beginning, is now & ever shall be,
World, without end. Amen.