Meeting
your soul is not a onetime event but a moment-to-moment deepening, an
ongoing rite of passage from who you thought you were to who you really
are.
—Living
From The
Inside Out
Have you noticed that motherhood has taken on many different forms today? Non-traditional roles have joined traditional ones to expand the myriad of images. But regardless of the form of motherhood we choose to express, the essence of motherhood is the precious gift wrapped inside the decorative box. Forms reflect our personality, conditioning, and culture; essence reflects the sacred, oneness, and universality inherent in all forms.
The essence of motherhood provides the opportunity to go beyond the traditional and non-traditional forms of mothering to the heart of everything that matters. When the inside is ignited, regardless of the form, it leads us to a direct encounter with our divine essence. This vital essence loves unabashedly, accepts unconditionally, understands completely, nurtures unrestrictedly, protects unlimitedly, and serves unselfishly.
Since the secret to the essence of motherhood is to claim stewardship of these essential qualities, think of it as a sacred gift that has been entrusted to your care. If you nourish it well, it will boost your life as well as the lives you touch, to ever new levels of enjoyment. This does not mean, however, that the way will always be easy. In fact, reports indicate that it usually entails a combination of agony and ecstasy. But once you have set the process in motion, you cannot help but encounter hidden parts of yourself and emerge delightfully transformed. All it requires are small yet consistent feedings of the essential qualities that support its growth; and the more you feed it, the larger it grows.
Where there is love, nothing is impossible. Such was the case of Helen Keller and her live-in governess and tutor, Anne Sullivan. Anne's non-traditional mothering role gave her the opportunity to perceive Helen's magnificence, even though it was temporarily hidden by layers of obstacles and wild ravings.
Although Helen was born healthy and lively, she developed a fever at the age of nineteen months which left her blind and deaf. Frustrated by her unsuccessful attempts to communicate, by the age of six she resorted to smashing dishes, hurling lamps, screaming hysterically and regularly throwing temper tantrums. In her family's struggle to control Helen's unruly behavior and help her express her feelings, they hired a teacher, Anne Sullivan. Using tough love, the bond between Anne and Helen grew and Helen's behavior improved. Anne reports, "Last night when I got into bed, she stole into my arms of her own accord and kissed me for the first time, and I thought my heart would burst, so full was it of joy."
When unabashed love is present, miracles happen. Armed with unconditional acceptance, selfless service, and compassionate understanding, Anne Sullivan's care-giving elevated the quality of a child's life. Known as the "miracle worker," Anne demonstrated how loving actions can make the difference between a life of tragedy or triumph. To her credit, Helen graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College, wrote three books, toured the world giving lectures, and had her life story featured in three Hollywood movies, as well as being elected to the Women's Hall of Fame at the New York World's Fair and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. Through Helen, Anne claimed the stewardship of motherhood—a sacred gift that raised both of their lives to heightened planes.
The nature of motherhood verifies what great religions and spiritual traditions have always taught: Nothing is more powerful than loving. As we genuinely love our children, regardless of the form, we nourish our connection to the authentic nature inside ourselves.
It is not a onetime event but a moment-to-moment deepening, an ongoing rite of passage that challenges and encourages your heart to open one more time than it closes. As your heart goes beyond reason to the truth of what matters, it ushers forth a loving and compassionate vortex of energy that transforms everything it touches. And mothers who provide it are indispensable.
If at any point you wonder how to impart this essence, follow this counsel: let compassion speak through your eyes as you gaze upon your children; let kindness gesture through your hands as you reach out and touch them; let understanding sing through your mind as you send them tender thoughts; let love be your guide as you nurture them along the path of life.
You don't have to give birth to be a mother. You already are one.
Feel free to share this inspirational message with friends, just keep the copyright and credits intact. If you enjoyed this article and would like more practical guidance to soulful living, read Dr. Jean-Marie Hamel’s book, Living from the Inside Out.
© 2005 Jean-Marie Hamel