God as Mother

It began as a simple conversation. I was telling my priest something about my mom, and he replied, "Well, mother's are most like God."

The remark stopped me in my tracks as I thought, yea, you are right. Who else loves beyond reason or explanation? Who else would sacrifice for you more than your mother?

And, come to think of it, scripture has many references of God as Mother. Think Isaiah 49: 15, speaking of God's love: Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Or Matthew 24:37, which has Jesus saying: how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!

When I think of God as Mother, I think of a gentle God, an understanding God, a God who cares.  When I think of God as Mother, I am more trusting, more confident, and pray with a greater honesty, one that is not afraid to speak my heart.

When I think of God as Mother, I no longer fear to approach God. Because I know, Mothers are the ones who accept, who heal, who bind up the wounds.

Mothers are great examples of what God is like. Are we not the luckiest people?