I have taken a few words from Murisopsis in compiling this post.
Being a mother is learning about the strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fears that you didn’t know existed.
Love is such an ethereal emotion. A child loves his mother, unconditionally until he becomes a teenager. Peer pressure sets in, and attitude and arrogance attack the same child, and the unconditional love that he had for that mother who worshipped the stones he walked on, becomes a chore and he starts sulking. Her love and the words of love that pour out of her eyes, are ignored and ridiculed and ugly words take over. He doesn’t care for anything or anyone at home. Friends and their parents always look so much better; and the mother puts a burning brick on her heart and ignores the scowls and the frowns.
Love is a give and take phenomenon. You meet it half way and embrace the undying bonds that take place. Always, always, the love of the mother has the heavier load. Children are distracted by various things, physical and emotional and the unconditional love becomes more conditional. Mothers focus only on their children, their well-being and their happiness. I say this with tongue in cheek, because I have known mothers who have been very abusive and put the name MOTHER to shame. That’s another story for another time. Love is not hurtful, it is not abusive and it is certainly not cruel.
Love comes in so many forms.
I believe we were all created in love. But we also make mistakes. Adam and Hawwa (EVE) made a mistake, so it is in our DNA, sort of! But grasping love when offered and reciprocated, opens vistas of peace and submission. This leads us into a state of perfection, me thinks! If we can hold on to the love and continue to give it freely without expecting anything in return, then I believe we have achieved the perfect form of solace, empathy and relaxation. And those same sons and daughters who couldn’t stand you in their teenage years, hover around you with utmost love, wanting to see the same love they received when they were much younger, and in their own way they do tapasya, penitence and pray for forgiveness.
Love is not just lip service, it needs actions and commitment. It wants me to stand up for justice and wants me to help a hungry family and hold their hands. However, yes, there is a however! Love can get bored when a person whom you adored, keeps on talking about herself or himself endlessly, and towards the end of the one way monopolization of this narcissism, he/she asks, so what is going on with you? How was your day like? And then this same love who has been patiently listening to the diatribe, takes a look into her self and says enough already of your bakwaas, (babble and chatter) don’t call me again!!
I had to bring a little humor into this serious subject so you, the readers can sit up straight and think, “Do I do that?”
But seriously, Love is all that I have talked about in this post, and much more, so much more!
I love this take on Love from the perspective of the mothering of teens! It is sometimes more difficult and other times easier to love those teenagers. Not having a daughter I was not subjected to the eye roll…. I think this is all from your heart and if I provided any inspiration I am gratified and thank you!
You inspired me to write this Val. I have posted this on my Indian blog also called CharminarConnection.
Such a huge subject, even just focusing on one aspect. The mother and child part of love might be the largest one of all. Like Source’s love of us?
I’m sorry if that burning brick on your heart was a part of your experience.
A wonderful post. It reminds me of my mother and her unconditional love for us and my cousins without judging any of us. Everyone goes back to her seeking her blessings. She is known as “Ajatshatru”, a person with no enemy.
How blessed you, your siblings and your cousins are to have a mother like that. Everyone cannot say the same about their mothers, or fathers for that matter. I never used to see abuse in India as much as i have seen here among my patients and general public.
🙏🙏🙏
A wonderful outlook about love. And the words of love are harder for some than others.
I read this post with great attention, Zakiah . It is sure a mother loves unconditionnallly and <when the teenager time is away the relationship child-mother becomes again strong , in general.
And what about the father ? 🙂
I wish a great time at this period of the year,
Love ❤
Michel
Fathers play a very important part also Michel, i take the example of Michel Fauquet! ❤ But the nurturing and the closeness is far closer to the mother in my opinion. My son Sayeed, adores me. My daughter Saadia loves me very much, but, she and her dad, they are like peas in a pod. Adore each other.
Such important AND wise words on love, SweetZ!
Yes, love is at it’s best in positive actions and with commitment!
Keep loving…you have a beautiful heart!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Wisdom. 😉 Love ya
I think it is safe to say I have been on the receiving end of such ‘love’. But to he honest and to be fair, I too have done the same, aka being the giver. The many ups and downs of life and daily frustrations at times have a way of turning hearts into ice, or at least changing the way we behave. I am trying my best to not let the bleak 2020 to continue rotting my mind and heart in living this 2021.
I love you Rudi, dear heart. Always!