“Her hands are like the beautiful and spotless lily, and He who loves the lily will be pleased to see among the lilies the simple gift which you present to Him through the hands of Mary.”- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Growing up, I always knew that my mom loved Mary. She calls Mary her best friend. She prays the rosary every day, says a Hail Mary if she curses, and calls out her name when she needs her grace. Mind you, most of the time the grace was to deal with her daughter!
The flowers I gave my mom weren’t the kinds you find in the grocery store or flower shops, delightfully displayed and envied. Mine were the kinds you find in the yard or in the fields, growing on their own time wherever they want. Oftentimes, my flowers felt unworthy of my mother’s unconditional love and forgiveness. But she took my wildflowers and gave them to Mary Mother of Jesus.
Her prayers were like lilies. Beautiful, spotless lilies. White to the eyes and pure to the heart.
My mom’s lilies are the prayers only a mother can understand.
Prayers of adventure, joy, and safety
Prayers of motivation, drive, and wisdom
Prayers of understanding, acceptance, and reassurance
Most of my mom’s prayers were for the family’s well-being. Some were colorful prayers of gratefulness, and others were “a broken halleluiah.”
She prayed to Mary because she knew that these were prayers a mother would understand, especially the mother of Jesus.
All of these prayers were accepted by Mary, as mothers accept flowers, with appreciation and gratitude. Carefully taken and tended to.
Thank you, Mom,
For all the ways you made my wildflowers become lilies. Without your prayers and guidance, I have no clue where I would be in life. I will always have adventure, joy, and safety with you. I will be motivated, driven, and smarter with you. I will understand, accept, and be reassured by you.
I love you as big as the world,
Bit
Source:
Eicher, Peter. Visions of Mary. Avon Books, 1996.
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