The Roman rulers and their soldiers who occupy our village, brag openly of knowing. They know their control for warmaking and the deaths war spawns. We women know too. We know our power for lovemaking and the life we hold close, deep within us during these first weeks. We know of the life we generate from lovemaking and we know the healing it will bring. Nothing changes in the military’s method for warmaking; the same rule, the same suffering, the same death. Everything changes in our being life-givers. I feel my breasts swelling, becoming more tender readying me to feed my baby. My nipples are becoming darker and more pronounced, so too the veins in my breasts. My belly is rounding out. I can feel my womb pressing on my bladder sometimes giving me a genuinely pressing need to relieve myself. So much is stirring within me; feelings of joy and concern, of irritability and calmness. I feel sick to my stomach sometimes, often in the morning. I feel as if everything inside of me has slowed down, especially after I eat, with heartburn and indigestion my daily companions. All in all, I am so very tired much of the time. I know new life is growing within me. I know my little one is nourished from my body, my mind, my heart, my soul. I touch my body and I touch my baby and I feel such motion, such vitality. I am mindful of my little one and talk to my baby all the time knowing brain cells are constantly firing in response. I love my baby and know our hearts are beating ever stronger together. I celebrate my baby in the depth of my soul. In my body, my mind, my heart, and my soul I am energized. I am warmed with a creativity flowing from our communion that is the power of life, the power of Divinity. What shall I name my baby, my little one who is so very vulnerable?
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, fill us all with the power of Life
Question: What do I know about my care for little ones?
November 27, 2022 Gospel Matthew 24:27-44 First Sunday of Advent