For Our Mothers/To Whom We Owe So Much

by Elliot Gamble

Lovingly, in our mother’s womb,
We were shaped,
Grown, and nurtured,
By our mothers, a blessing
To all those around them.

Appreciate! comes the rallying cry,
For truly, we value,
These matrons of love,
That most honored calling.

δοῦναι in fright and pain,
A soothing word, ne’er hesitantly given,
Able to heal that art most broken.
No affliction too terrible
For their tending to cure,
Mothers have always given their all.

Warm jam, freshly made,
Small affections,
Little kindnesses,
Make a world of difference.
A Mother working tirelessly into the night,
For a child’s birthday cake.

Lilting voices,
Softly singing,
Of apples and worms,
Mangers and heads,
Christopher Robin and Winne-the-Pooh,
Drifting to sleep, under the covers of a melody,
שָׂגַב

That same love that he showed to us,
Given graciously, poured out,
Powerful examples,
Living light,
Illumine our world.

ἀγαπητοί, εἰ οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν. θεὸν οὐδεὶς πώποτε τεθέαται· ἐὰν ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὁ θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν μένει καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν τετελειωμένη ἐστιν.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:11-12

These women have given,
So much of themselves,
Nurturing, loving, raising us well,
Making us into,
A reflection of Christ.

ὑμᾶς δὲ ὁ κύριος πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι τῇ ἀγάπῃ εἰς ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰς πάντας, καθάπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Elliot Gamble, 16, is the son of Rev. Scott and Michelle Gamble. He attends Concordia Lutheran Church, Penticton, BC

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