We all started out in the womb. We all first learned about God through our mothers.
Recently, I read the book Theology of the Womb by Christy Bauman. In her book, Christy lays out a detailed metaphor for learning about the nature of God through the body of a woman. For Christy, after the death of her son Brave, she could not find comfort in a God who was only male. She said she needed the love and comfort of a Mother God. The death of Brave was the beginning of her journey to write this book. In my conversations with Christy I found such wisdom and grace as she talked about God as Woman. I found comfort in her words. She reminded me God is referred to as a woman often in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah. For example,
Isaiah 66: 9 - 13
9 Shall I open the womb and not deliver? says the Lord; shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God.
10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her—
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom.
12 For thus says the Lord: I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees.
13 As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Christy is a professional counselor and she work can be found on her website. She offers books, classes, marriage counseling, and individual/group counseling. She has many books and podcasts that all provided excellent content. Her podcast Womaneering explores deep topics and stories about woman and I highly recommend it for men, like myself, who need to grow in their understanding of womanhood. I also highly recommend her work for woman who have endured great pain in the journey to motherhood and for couples who experience infertility.
May you find hope in the stories of woman around you. May you have wisdom in the words of Christy. May you find love and peace in arms of God today. May you find comfort in God as Mother this day.
"Theology of the Womb" on Mother's Day!