Moving Towards Embracing

One of my favorite Celtic writers is John O'Donohue. I have just about every one of his books. A particular special book is "To Bless the Space Between Us" - it's filled with poems for just about any place you find yourself in the journey of life.

As I continue to adapt to the idea of being pregnant at this stage in life, I sensed God nudging me towards this special little book sitting on my shelf, remembering that between the pages lies a poem titled, "For a Mother-To-Be." I've never had any reason to read this poem in the past, but now - it's a different day. God used this poem to launch me out of the devastation stage of my surprise pregnancy into the acceptance stage, which is leading quickly into the embracing stage. I'd like to share Mr. O'Donohue's touching words with you now.

For A Mother-To-Be
by John O'Donohue

Nothing could have prepared
Your heart to open like this.

From beyond the skies and the stars
This echo arrived inside you
And started to pulse with life,
Each beat a tiny act of growth,
Traversing all our ancient shapes
On its way home to itself.

Once it began, you were no longer your own.
A new, more courageous you, offering itself
In a new way to a presence you can sense
But you have not seen or known.

It has made you feel alone
In a way you never knew before;
Everyone else sees only from the outside
What you feel and feed
With every fiber of your being.

Never have you traveled farther inward
Where words and thoughts become half-light
Unable to reach the fund of brightness
Strengthening inside the night of your womb.

Like some primeval moon,
Your soul brightens
The tides of essence
That flows to your child.

You know your life has changed forever,
For in all the days and years to come,
Distance will never be able to cut you off
From the one you now carry
For nine months under your heart.

May you be blessed with quiet confidence
that destiny will guide you and mind you.

May the emerging spirit of your child
Imbibe encouragement and joy
From the continuous music of your heart,
So that it can grow with ease,
Expectant of wonder and welcome
when its form is fully filled

And it makes its journey out
To see you and settle at last
Relieved, and glad in your arms.

Grace & peace ~ deAnn