We need the wisdom of the elder mothers to remind society of the importance of supporting mothers whose children still need immediate care.
This beautiful picture is the best story from this MAU Vocal Empowerment Workshop, though there were many wonderful folks from several different Methodist churches present (a terrifically diverse gathering, as it included the mostly Hispanic and African-American congregation as well as the Korean congregation and the largely Caucasian/European decent congregation.) The mother in this photo (on the right), her husband, and their two children (the younger daughter is on stilts), had recently become homeless when he lost his job and they could no longer afford the rent on their apartment. This woman’s own mother refused to take them in, but her mother-in-law (on the left) welcomed them into her home in Lubbock.
My first impression of the grandmother when we were starting the workshop was that she was rather shut down and shy. However, as we moved around the circle declaring our most passionate concerns, she spoke with unexpected eloquence and grace about how it’s the role of the elders to build up the mothers upon whose care the well-being of all children rests. She spoke with the wisdom of a wise, old soul as she praised her daughter-in-law for her courage in the face of their situation and how it was her honor to help her be strong during this difficult time for her family.
When it came time for the mother herself to declare her concern, all she could express was her gratitude to her mother-in-law and that she was concerned for her own two children. She said she knew there was a world of other children out their who were also suffering, but that she could only think of her own at that time. Everyone voiced their empathy for her and reassured her that, given her immediate situation, her action for the day was to simply accept the encouragement and love from everyone present.
After sharing a meal together after the workshop, we had a procession on one of the main streets in the town since it was Mother’s Day weekend. The daughter was excited to try out the stilts we had brought, and with the support of her mother and grandmother on either side of her, she stood tall, strong and happy.
