A Prayer For Cross Mothers
Oh God, I was so cross to the children today! Forgive me. I was discouraged and tired ~ and I took it out on them. Forgive my bad temper, my impatience, and most of all, my yelling. I am so ashamed as I think of it.
I want to kneel down by each of their beds, wake them up and ask them to forgive me. But I can't.
They wouldn't understand. I must go on living with the memory of this awful day; my unjust tirades.
Hours later, I can still see the fear in their eyes as they scurried around, trying to appease me ~ thinking my anger and maniacal raving was their fault.
Oh God, the pathetic helplessness of children! Their innocence before the awful monster ~ the enraged adult.
And how forgiving they are, hugging me so fervently at bedtime, kissing me goodnight.
All I can do is straighten a cover, touch a small head burrowed in a pillow and hope with all my heart that they will forgive me.
Lord, in failing these little ones whom you have put in my keeping, I am failing you. Please let your infinite patience and goodness replenish me for tomorrow.
MFH (1886 - 1976) American English & Latin teacher, civic activist.
(A Dear Friend, Janice Wingrove, gave the above to me after we shared a soul-searching discussion on the difficulties of stay-at-home Moms. My friend died of cancer and I have only recently been in touch with her beautiful adult children, Cheryl, Lorna and Justin. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I hope that Marjorie Holmes' writing means as much to someone out there as it did to my friend and to myself. lbw)
