You know, childbirth is not the most severe pain you
can experience as a woman- I believe being the
mother of a prodigal child is! Even more so when
they are now adults! The pain the mother of a
prodigal suffers never goes away, for the love that
God placed in our hearts for them from birth rarely
dies. The natal cord still remains long after a
child's birth- the invisible cord of love and
bonding that make up a mother's love for her child.
Only a prodigal child can touch your heart and leave
it raw and still have you love them. The love that
endures from its conception is usually only severed
through the mother’s death. No matter how much we
deny it, or try to divorce ourselves from them, it
is exceedingly difficult to find that love for your
child completely dies. A woman can divorce her
abusive husband and eventually recover- the divorce
of a prodigal child is virtually impossible. And
often the wounded mother's heart is still bleeding
as another onslaught of pain appears! To me, it is
like a perpetual labour of the soul. I have been
through the gamut of emotions prodigal children
bring- from self-blame and introspection, guilt,
regrets and despair to hope that after a trial he or
she has finally learnt their lesson and grown up! I
have found after many years, that it was their
choices that cause them to be prodigals, not some
defect in my mothering or love. It is a hard lesson
to learn. It is harder still to distance yourself
and mean it. For despite the best of intentions, a
plea for help will summon the maternal desire to aid
your child, and all good intentions for your own
survival and mental health go down the drain. I have
placed my children in God's care and have found that
most times it has been more a learning experience in
trusting God for me rather than for my children. I
am devastated to find that after all my trouble with
my son yesterday and over the last few weeks, he
still hasn't learnt his lesson, and has been driving
his car unlicensed. I am resigned to hearing that he
has been taken into prison as the Judge warned him.
I hope it doesn't happen- but I fear it will- and no
amount of my praying will help him this time. The
fault is not mine or God's, but his. The pain is
ongoing- and I vow to myself to distance myself from
him should it happen- yet God knows that I will
suffer those pains only the mother of a prodigal can
understand, when it happens. So to all mothers of
prodigals, I have written this poem- a prayer
really! And a plea for understanding for all those
mothers blessed with basically good children. Please
pray for me and all those mothers who continue to
suffer through no fault of their own- except to be
mothers of prodigals...
When The Mother Of A Prodigal Prays
Somewhere the poor mother of a prodigal son cries,
Her
eyes reddened and not taking in much at all,
For
she’s seeing her son through the eyes of love
Not
how the world sees him at all…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
For
every thief is some poor mother’s child,
He
has captured her heart in love’s ransom-
Yet
to her she still sees the son of her youth;
But
he’s stolen all of her dreams…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
Desperately and frantically the murderer flees
Yet
from this one thing he can’t ever flee-
The
love of his mother bowing in sorrow,
Bemoaning a love he can’t kill…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
For
every trembling junkie finally taking a fix
There’s a hurting mother just wondering why
The
life that she gave him just isn’t enough;
And
she bows her head slowly and cries…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
The
gavel thumps and the sentence is passed
She
is ushered out as her son’s led away.
As
tears flow down each side of her face
She
still finds the strength to pray…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
So
for every news article that you ever read
Of
sons that have gone their own way,
Remember that he has a mother who cares
And
lift her to God when you pray…
For
somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O
how this poor mother prays.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks 2005
“Bear
one another burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ”
Galatians 6:2