On this day after Mother’s Day, I imagine the joy that many mothers of all descriptions felt yesterday lingers. One more deposit to what I term their “mother’s memory bank” and available for withdrawal when needed. Whether the connection to mom was in person, virtual, via phone call or text message, it undoubtedly brought solace and comfort during this difficult time in our history.
It goes without saying that there were and are countless other mothers who did not enjoy this annual tribute. For a myriad of reasons, for them the traditional celebrations marking the day are anything but comforting. Reflecting upon that reality, I recalled an article in the paper the other day in which the author shared how hard it is these days to avoid the blues that shadows her spirits during this pandemic. I imagined that they mimic the feelings of sadness of the mothers referenced above. Indeed this is a time when such feelings can weigh heavily, not just for mothers but for all of us as we fight to maintain the joy God wants us to know at the same time we fight the coronavirus. The author went on to offer as an antidote for lifting one’s spirits the titles of “comfort books.” She referenced several and suggested that they might assuage the COVID-19 blues. I’m not familiar with the books she highlighted and so can’t pass judgment on whether they are comfort and solace givers or not. What I can add do is add to the top of her list the bestselling “comfort book” ever written in the annals of human history – the Holy Bible.
It is a comfort and solace giver written for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws; for any and everyone who struggles to make sense of life and its challenges whether during a pandemic or any other disruption of the norm. Accessing biblical comfort requires cultivating a discipline that I know works. I suggest you begin with 10-15 minutes daily reading biblical verses that speak to comfort and solace. Such verses are typically listed in the concordance or glossary at the back of the Bible. To get you started, I offer a few: Psalm 27:12; Isaiah 41:10; John 16:22; Matthew 10:29-31; and Matthew 6:25-34. These and a myriad of other verses when read and reflected upon regularly will bring an almost supernatural sense of peace during the worse times. Will they ward off the pandemic and protect you physically from possible infection? No. But what they will do is protect you from the malaise, the sense of doom, the bewilderment, the anxiety, and fear times like this dredge up. They will like the Mother’s Day expressions of love give joy.
Love. Joy. Peace.