How many times were we nourished here,
form this altar, with this church family,
abundant mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,
shoulder to shoulder around the communion rail in this place?
With my babies in arms or underfoot,
or with my teenagers looming over me,
showing up hungry, being fed,
sent away with blessings,
because that's what Mothers do
I’m not the only one embracing my kids these days.
Was I ever really?
Even on the hospital day of their birth, other arms received them, too
Is this just how it goes?
Will our families just keep expanding and expanding?
With my grown children I realize
this has become a shared-custody situation
Mother Church has a bigger reach than I do--praise God--
She has better gifts, too.
I hope they received a foretaste at our table,
and I hope they keep showing up at Hers
hungry and receptive
long after mine is out of operation.
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Good Shepherd, feed your sheep, tend your lambs
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