Mama Monday #57

Last week at church, Renee preached on the midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) in Exodus.  She pointed out their courage in how they listened to a deeper, truer voice than Pharoah’s. They also promoted wholeness and connection through the work they were doing as midwives. She invited us to consider what it means to come alongside others with the gifts we have and to consider who God is calling us to accompany along the way.  

She asked me to offer a prayer after the sermon, and below what I shared:

Midwives are people who come alongside women in labor, and one of the things they do is to help them to breathe through it all.  In the same vein, before we begin, let’s take a few moments to breathe.  Close your eyes, relax your body starting with your facial muscles working all the way down to your feet. Choose one of the phrases below as your prayer. Then, take in a slow, steady breath and say the first part of the scripture. As you breathe out, say the latter part of the scripture.

Lord, have mercy. (Psalm 123:3)

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)

When I am afraid, I will trust you. (Psalm 56:3)

Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

Peace, be still. (Mark 4:39)

Fear not, for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)

Be still and know I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

 

Psalm to the Midwife
Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You will know when it is time to bring to birth the new creation.
The signs will be all around you, urging, insisting; now is the time.
You will have to know just when to bear down and concentrate on one thing only.
It takes labor, hard, hard labor to bring forth something new.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know just when to push for something that is worth fighting for.
If you push too soon, the dream, so close to fulfillment, may be stillborn.
You have to know how hard to push when something new is about to happen.
If you push too hard, you may be too exhausted or too discouraged to continue on,
and resistance may rise or fear may take hold, convincing you it’s safer not to try.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know how to cut the cord and how to let go of what has been…
For what will be will be different and it will take time to adjust.

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!
You have to know how to wait for things to settle after the dream is born,
and how to handle the consequences – clean up the mess and then move on.
How good it is to bring to birth, or to help another bring to birth,
and how good it is to deliver the dream, let us nurture it to fulfillment!!

Be midwife to our hopes, Oh Lord, make midwives of us all!

Adapted from Woman Witness by Miriam Therese Winter