Parenthood
“And We have commanded people to ‘honour’ their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return.”
Surah Luqman 31:14
A whisper from God – pour love and compassion toward your parents. Parenthood is one of the most difficult jobs ever given to a human being. This verse reminds us of being carried by our mothers, whether physically or metaphorically. As today is Mothers Day in the Middle East, take a moment to reflect on all the care and sacrifices your mother has given you.
As humans, we tend to forget the hardships our parents have gone through. Life goes on, we get busy, and our differences can lead to frustration or even distance. The Quran reminds us over and over again to remain connected with our parents and take care of them.
From a holistic coaching perspective, connecting with family creates a sense of grounding. It allows us to feel the cord that runs from one generation to the next. Family is like a tree: your parents and ancestors are your roots, deeply and strongly embedded far into the ground, allowing you to grow beyond the surface with strength and love.
Your relationship with your parents is also a channel of Divine compassion. Many people have challenging relationships with their parents, and that is normal. Yet when we accept them as they are, and allow compassion to flow through us from the Divine rather than from us alone, an expansion of the heart and state of mind occurs.
“All that I am or ever hope to be I owe to my Angel mother”
Abraham Lincoln.
If your parents are present in your life, spend mindful time with them today.
Set an intention before you see them, to witness them with fresh eyes. Notice their features, and send them love and compassion.
If you’re calling them, listen with presence and choose your words with care. Let them feel appreciated and honoured.
If they have passed on, close your eyes and pray for them.
Know in your heart that your love and prayers reach them.
“One day, I will no longer be able to call my mother and talk to her about my day, share my wins and losses, tell stories, and listen to hers. Ken’s advice and admonitions about unearthing and releasing resentments was humbling. It made me realize how lucky I was and how unique my parents truly are.”
Raising an Aging Parent – Ken Druck
“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.”
I know why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Aneglou
“Paradise lies beneath the feet of your mother.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – Hadith, Sunan an-Nasā’ī 3104
