May is upon us, and amongst the children’s school concerts, sporting events, and the final weeks of school—we also have Mother’s Day coming up.
Mother’s Day can be a really complex and nuanced holiday for so many of us—whether you have lost a mother or lost a child; whether your relationship with your own mother are complicated or strained, or you’re just tired of going into the day with high hopes only to let the sun set on a disappointed heart full of unmet expectations.
It’s quite a lot like Motherhood actually—the ache of the day mirrors the aches of motherhood in so many ways. The way that even the joy of it hurts. The way the sacrifices take you apart and put you back together.
And yet, when I explored the themes of Divine Love in my book as the Sparrow flies, Mother-Love was the closest comparison. It is through my own relationship with my children that I have seen most clearly the way God loves me with a deep, abiding, and costly aching love.
That’s why for the month of May I’m giving you all a 15% DISCOUNT on my book as the Sparrow flies in my Poetry Shop.
Additionally, I’ve also created a series of greeting cards perfect for the Mother in your life, with snippets of poems from my book, (and one completely new poem for the loss Mamas in the crowd.) Combine a card with my book and get free shipping—making the perfect gift for your Mom, Grandma, or just plain old Badass Mom friends in your life.
Motherhood is a hard and holy journey—so much harder than I ever anticipated. And yet when my faith had been blown to smithereens, it was Motherhood that reminded me of how much God loves me, just because I am his child.
For a sampling of some of the poems on motherhood in my book check out these posts:
Anything & Everything (How Jesus loves us with the love of a Mother.)
for the love (what will a mother not do for her children? )
is this what they call a Tragedy? (a poem for a tragic loss)
there is more (this one isn’t in the book, but this is the text of my loss Mama card at the bottom of this page.)
There are many more in the book, including “curl close,” “let me be/your breath” and a poem I wrote for Mother’s day actually that I’ll probably repost in a week or so.
I cannot wait to get these books, and these cards, in you and your loved one’s hands for Mother’s Day this year. (I am also still writing personalized handwritten notes to each person who buys a book from my shop, so feel free to leave me a note with who the book is for and I’ll keep that in mind as I write my encouragements!)
Keep scrolling to see the cards! I think they turned out pretty cute. ;)
“curl close to me/ as I tuck you in a love/ strong enough/ to envelope you /for all time.”
“I am learning to embrace/ the Ache that makes me/ more than just / a stone.”
“but she is a Mother/ and for the love/ she will do/ whatever it takes.”
I wrote this poem for the loss moms this Mother’s Day—especially those who have suffered a pregnancy loss or a still birth. (Though I imagine it would connect with a loss Mom of any stage.)
If you, or someone you love has lost a child, I hope this poem brings you a measure of comfort in the midst of this incredible, unspeakable ache.
Thanks for being here Dear Readers,
Your next Essay coming to you this month is on the topic of rest in the midst of battling mom guilt which I think will be a timely one for all of us here at The House of Rest. I’m looking forward to sharing more thoughts with you soon.
Warmly,
Grace E. Kelley
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Sharing this far and wide!