Sunday, June 9, 2013

Seeds and Buds and Flowers


One of the first things I saw on Saturday morning was the beautiful face of a new born baby on my Instagram feed. His mother held him close, her joy filled the frame. I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes. Tears of joy. Tears of remembering.

I scrolled to the next photo in the feed and there was a high school graduation scene....a different mom friend posting a moment in her life ~ another that I remember from my own. And a tear fell across my cheek.

The house was quiet, coffee brewing. I was the only one awake. Alone with these images and my thoughts. My two, grown and flown, had once been babies in my arms, teens in cap and gown. Moments, scenes ... flashed through my heart. And I settled easily into the comfort my memories bring.

I love my mom memories. From the lego and barbie mom, to varsity soccer mom and mother of the bride. The journey from seed to bud to blossom, with each of my children, has been sweeter than sweet. So unexpected. It's a journey still full of staggering, marvelous twists and turns. We travel over well manicured paths, run freely across wild, wide open meadows and hold hands through thorny patches. Always have. Always will.

But as I sat with my Instagram feed on a quiet Saturday morning, I think it was that heart connection with fellow mom journey-women that  moved me to tears. As moms we know that first-breath moment. And all those catch-your-breath moments. We can rejoice together and mourn together, struggle together, giggle together and share that five o'clock glass of wine together. Even through a blog entry or a tiny phone screen...sharing in a far away last-day-of-school or receiving a prayer request from a woman who's hands I've never actually held....I experience such a strong connection to the hearts of other moms.

It's an honor to walk with my fellow gardeners.
It's important to me that they each be treated with respect. With care, encouragement, generosity...and respect.
With each photo, phrase, event or emotion we share with each other, we extend an invitation into our hearts. Our homes. Our parenting.

My prayer, as I scrolled back to that new baby's beautiful face, was that we would learn together. That all of us who share in this ever expanding, virtual village would take great care with this honor of inclusion. That we would take great care to treat our fellow journey-women well. Oh, so very well.

Here, in this most tender of places...that place that is the heart of a mom....may we hold each other to a golden standard.

THAT golden standard.

Doing unto other moms...as we would hope they would do unto us.



{linking with Project 52Just Write and Memories Captured}

26 comments:

  1. Community is essential. You are my community! I am so glad we "met" :)

    Alita

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  2. Love the picture - and this post is beautifully written!

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  3. Adrienne, this is such a thoughtful, beautiful and poignant post. I think all parents should read this, and yes, the golden rule. We are all in this together, no matter how far along we are on this mother-journey.

    Thank you for linking up with Memories Captured. It's a pleasure and an honour to meet you.

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  4. Oh this is so lovely. Seed to bud to blossom - so perfectly put. Lovely memories here!

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  5. I love so much the connection you have drawn between mothering and blossoming. Beautiful.

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  6. Such a beautiful reflection, Adrienne. "It's a journey still full of staggering, marvelous twists and turns" — I agree. Even though I'm just at the beginning of my own mothering journey, it's been full of moments to "tend" our gardens. Thanks for sharing your memories! I'm so blessed today because of them.

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  7. This is so very lovely. There are so many moments and things and ways to be grateful for, aren't there?

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  8. I think this is my new favorite post of yours :)

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  9. I love that way of thinking of our children - from seed to bud to blossom. Beautiful!

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  10. you always say it best adrienne!! special words crafted so beautifully from your heart!!

    a grate analogy and a very pretty image!!

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  11. Such a beautiful post! learn together . . . my favorite part :) that's the best.

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  12. Such a well-written post! I too cherish community with women. Gorgeous post!

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  13. Oh what a beautiful heartfelt post, I got teary eyed just reading this and your last sentence just sums it all up beautifully.

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  14. You certainly have a powerful talent to move people with your words! It brought me joy to read this post. I am not a mom, though you conveyed the feelings so well that your words just guided my eyes to linger on. I especially loved the metaphor of the flower through your thought process of seed to bud to blossom. Beautiful post! Have a great week & blessings to you!

    xoxo,
    Allie @ Framed by God
    http://framedbygod.blogspot.com/

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  15. What a wonderful post! I love the idea if praying for other moms.

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  16. It is an invitation into our hearts each time we allow these glimpses into our mother hearts. For me it has been such a gift.

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  17. With each photo, phrase, event or emotion we share with each other, we extend an invitation into our hearts. Our homes. Our parenting....I love this. such a beautiful post and so honest and true. We are a community and I am so happy that we met, and that we have shared. I remember the kindness you extended to us when Daisy passed away and all the kindness along the way. xo

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  18. P.S I am looking forward to the day we meet in person and share a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. :)

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  19. So beautiful, Adrienne! I just love this post...

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  20. So beautiful, Adrienne! I just love this post...

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  21. Thank you for sharing a very reflective post. I am but a rookie in mommyhood and is learning from all of the moms participating in Memories Captured.

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  22. Beautiful analogy.

    If only we could always treat our fellow sojourners with love and kindness and let go of judgment and ridicule.

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  23. This is just wonderful and so touching and true! I may have to print this out.

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