Do not judge the bereaved mother. She comes in many forms. She is breathing, but she is dying. She may look young, but inside she has become ancient. She smiles, but her heart sobs. She walks, she talks, she cooks, she cleans, she works, but she is not all here because part of her is elsewhere for eternity.

God bless the mother who has lost a part of herself now that her child is gone. Yet, she knows she must go on somehow. She will never be who she once was before her child was taken. Some days she can’t help but feel her heart has been forsaken. It is said, you give the hardest tasks to those you know are strong but her task is painful.

Please help her rise each time she falls, give her courage for her fears, have angels hover ever near to dry her endless tears. Keep her close within your arms each moment they are apart. Please give her comfort while she grieves, God please soothe her aching heart.

In recent years, I’ve organized “Stop the Violence” rallies. During those times, I grew close to some mothers, other family members as well, but not like the mothers. I’ve sat and studied them, and most recently, their images won’t leave my head or heart. At first, I was just speaking for mothers who lost their children to violence until this particular mother mentioned how she lost her son to cancer.

As I looked around, I noticed mothers are suffering however their child was lost. In saying this, I began to think of ways I could be of help support all mothers who suffered a loss of a child. The thought was to gather them together, where they could support one another, communicating to ease some of the pain. Oftentimes, when you talk with someone going through the same thing, they can share what they do to help them cope.

One mother said, “They didn’t have to kill my son, they could have paralyzed him or anything.” There are mothers who can barely get out of bed, and some don’t want to leave home. Every day, one mother would visit the cemetery and read a Bible verse to her son. This mother visits her son every day, no matter the weather. Pastors and others have tried talking with her, but she continues her visits.

Please consider joining this organization. Committee members are Frances Bailey, Cynthia Graves Washington, Cynamon Williams, Connie White, Tanya Green Carroll and Earline Collins. All mothers are welcome to join. We will have annual memorials to remember and celebrate lives that have been lost. For more information, please contact Jacqueline Marsaw at 601-443-3630.

 

Jacqueline Marsaw is a Natchez resident.