The name of
Amram’s wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt;
and she bore
to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. – Num. 26: 59
As a waiting
expectant mother who adopted children, the story found in Exodus 2: 1-10 is
full an overwhelming array of feelings. I am reminded of my jealousy, and the
fall out on the children’s part, when letters were received from their birth mother,
wishing them all the love in the world, and a promise of some day being
together again to start from the moment they were taken. I recall having to
explain (with a heavy heart) again and again, that the birth mother loved them,
but, due to horrendous life experience and trauma, she was unable to fully care
for them. My heart aches as one is
currently living in precarious circumstances (having disowned me)- and is more akin to the birth family. I am
proud that the children have grown into wonderful young adults and carry with
them, even exhibit from time to time, the faith and wisdom I tried to impart.
For mothers
(parents) who adopt children, and for birth families from whom children have
been taken; it becomes a mess of what it means to be mother and not mother.
For the
princess to adopt Moses and let Jochebed be his nurse; to be mother, and not
mother…
For Jochebed
to wet-nurse Moses, her own son, for another woman to see him grow into
adulthood; to be mother, and not mother…
Exodus 2 tells
the story of Jochebed, a holy mother of faith and wisdom. She births a son at the time when the powers
that be were eradicating life – genocide via the slaughter of children.
Jochebed’s faith and wisdom recognized the baby was destined for greatness. Her faith and wisdom are seen in the
ingenuity to hide the child for three months. With careful planning she saved
the child (knowing the papyrus was protection from the crocodiles, plaster
would smooth the inside for the comfort of the baby, and bitumen would make the
basket waterproof). Jochebed placed the basket in the area where the princess
bathed and her daughter kept an eye on the basket, ready to run and find a
wet-nurse for the princess.
As wet-nurse,
mother and not-mother, I imagine that Jochebed sang her faith-songs as
lullabies, and whispered her God-stories into the baby’s ears. She treasured
these moments in her heart.
Jochebed,
suppressed her own maternal need to keep the child, out of such motherly love that
she selflessly gave child to others (the world) for higher purposes – purposes which
at the time were unknown. She had faith
in what was to be.
By living in
the paradox, of being mother and not mother; Jochebed was the Mother of Israel,
a mother to a myriad of children– her son Aaron founded the Hebraic priesthood
and served as priest for 40 years; her daughter Miriam was leader of worship; and
Moses made it all possible by being liberator and leader of the Hebrew people
out of Egypt through the desert.
To be mother,
and not mother, meant being every mother.
God,
Give us all –
women, men; old, young;
Hearts with
the capacity for selfless love.
That we might
be mother, and not mother,
To those
around us.
That faith and
wisdom are shared
through love,
shown, regardless of relationship,
Making us be
every mother ---
A mother who
sings faith songs as lullabies,
And whispers
God-stories in the ears of those in our care.
For the
healing of the world,
Amen.
