God is father. But we miss much of his divine character when we don’t consider the ways in which motherhood also points back to him. In the beginning, God created both male and female to reflect his image. And this gives us the freedom to ponder God’s nature reflected through motherhood as well.
To be sure, pregnancy is one clear example of motherhood. It was through our mother’s body that we entered the world. We were dependent on our interconnectedness and her radical hospitality from conception, and we could not survive as separate autonomous beings. Our entire being was held together snuggly and safe in her womb.
And while there was a time to cut the cord as it were, this image of being held in the gestating presence of Love still holds in our relationship with God. For in him we live and move and have our being.
We often think of ourselves as independent agents – operating by our own wit, strength, and effort alone. And there are elements of truth here, as many are prone to become overly dependent on others – neglecting their own potential to bring more life and goodness into the world. But learning to stand on our own two feet does not sever the ultimate interconnectedness we still have with God and each other.
Like a child in his mother’s womb, we are never alone. God will never leave or forsake us. And this brings an indescribable peace and comfort to our souls, especially on days we’re feeling isolated and alone, and that the weight of the world is on our shoulders.
It’s easy to miss God’s loving presence surrounding us when we don’t stop to consider how motherhood also reflects his divine nature.
In the end, God gave us mothers to be a living mirror of his ever present and interconnected love. How beautiful to live in the abundance of his care.
