Mother’s Day

Dedicated to mothers who raised children to whom they did not give birth, and to children who loved mothers who were not their biological.

Today, Mother’s Day, I will share with you some thoughts about motherhood starting with the female deity, the Earth, as praised by the Orphic hymn No. 26:

Goddess Earth, mother of the gods and mortal people
………………………………………………………………………
That you carry the multifarious fruit with labour travail,
Eternal, venerable, wide womb, lucky
……………………………………………………………………….

Birth and motherhood therefore begin with nature itself and its ability to produce and reproduce. It is a property with which all female beings are endowed, to crave pregnancy, to give birth and to raise their young with affection and lavish love.

In recent years, when television and animal documentaries have flourished, we all have seen how every mother in the animal kingdom with self-denial takes care of her children and provides them with all the supplies and guidance before leaving them free to take their courses in life.

We all consider maternal love as the ultimate love, acting with self-denial and without self-centredness. But often to us, humans, this is a wrong impression, because many mothers identify their own desires and dreams with those of their children and push for their realization. But even when this happens, it is a transcendence of the natural giftedness, not a lack of its existence.

Being a mother means creating life, preserving it, and developing it. In the same way, every creator is the mother or father of their creation and have the right to claim this title.

Particularly touching is the love given to children by mothers who did not give birth to them, and the return of this love from children to mothers who are not their biological. This proves that the nature of motherhood is not just biological, but is a genetic property of female organisms and works beyond biological conditions. It is the very ability of nature to perpetuate its existence. With a surplus of heart, they give to children, whom they grow up, love, which is not raised instinctively, but is a conscious choice.

I once heard the story of a teenager who had just lost his mother. A few days later it was Mother’s Day and at school the teacher began to talk to them about the virtues of each mother and to express her role within the family. This teenager felt awfully bad and left the classroom.

It is for this reason that I believe that the concept of ‘mother’ should not be limited simply to a biological and family role but to expand and cover creativity and giftedness in life, wherever they come from. In the same way, we should teach our children that they should show respect and love to every person who offers them their own lavish love, so the pain, in case of loss of the biological montherr, can more easily heal.

In concluding this record of thoughts, I would like to express my respect for every mother who carries out this sacred role with self-denial and self-awareness.

Blessed, then, is Mother’s Day, which is the celebration of the generator ability of nature and the creation of the universe.

• From the book Ορφικοί Ύμνοι “Orphic Hymns” – translated in modern Greek by Α. P. Papaditsas – Eleni Ladia. Translated in English from modern Greek by me.
• Photo: Veronica, Socrates and Suleiman