A Lineage Of Light

By Patti Iverson

Mothers and grandma’s hearts are heavy so much of the time. The little ones sent into their care are on the road to many hard, uphill struggles and even a few ferocious battles. But Jesus came so that we are to have life abundant, not drudgery!

~Joy~ we were created to be helpers! Not heroes, simply holy helpers. Some sacrifice their own lives, while others only their egos. Most, as Sydney Smith quoted, “…have done so much with so little, for so long, that they are now qualified to do anything with nothing”, and so are the perfect helpers for God in raising these wee ones. Anonymous, who is very wise, coined this beautiful prose about women:

A LINEAGE OF LIGHT
Ethereal being
Baby of air and hope.
From the four corners
The mothers and grandmothers are gathering
To knit together
The silver string
Of your inheritance.
They call out to you as they work …
Here is courage.
Courage to be generous
To stand up for right,
Courage to collect your flock and run when you need to.
Here is strength and capability.
Here are your own two feet
To walk on, to travel far and wide.
Two hands ~ to take, To give, and
To make music.
Here is Joy!
Spontaneity!
Here is a mouth
To smile with, to open wide with laughter, and to
Tell stories like your mothers and grandmothers.

Not everyone is blessed to have a Godly woman to raise and love him or her, yet there’s probably been a “mom” or female person somewhere in their life spouting mom-ilies and mom-isms enough to drive them crazy. Y’know the “new” adage, “If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother! Even if those venerable sayings came from crazy moms, they arose from a heart of love and wisdom ‘cause that’s the way God made them.

Moses’ mom: “That’s a good story. Now tell me where you’ve been the last 40 years.”
Einstein’s mom: “But can’t you do SOMETHING with that hair of yours?”

Columbus’ mom: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered. You should’ve written.”

Some things never change! Everything we do is because there probably was a woman in our past telling us to do it. Change your underwear; you could get hit by a bus. Brush your teeth. Do unto others as you’d have others do unto you. If you use it, put it back. Eat your veggies.

They taught us how to think, pray, eat, socialize, learn, hate, love, talk, walk, and simply be, serving either as a good example or a rather horrid one. Whew! As a mother, I’m truly tired! As a kid, I was truly confused! Mixed messages and all that, but that was THEN and this is NOW. I’ve had a really great God to change things around. He’s brought other mothers, grandmothers and women into my life to mentor, love, and come alongside me in this glorious game called Life.

Older women are called to be Titus 2 women, “…reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5

Matthew Henry, an old, great, though very dead, commentator put it quite succinctly: “Women, use your Christian experience to guide and encourage, not daunt and discourage.” I’m still trying to figure out when I became one of the “older” women! Gosh, seems like only yesterday I was sitting at the most glorious feet of women of God who seemed ancient to me. After all, their kids were teenagers, even! Some were grandmas. Some GREAT g’mas! Oh well. Now I’m proud (gulp!) to be one!

As it says in the lovely poem above, we mothers and grandmothers, and Godly women are gathering. Gathering together to simply help those we love as our lineage of light. Shine on! Happy Mother’s Day to each and every one of the women—new, old, grand or great.

Patti Iverson randpi@charter.net