Every mother struggles. We want to give our children the world. There is a deep longing inside every mother to do the best for her child, and feeling the pressure of that and not being able to give their child everything they want to give them. There are those of us who struggle with infertility and long to be mothers and are met with constant disappointment and hurt from a dream unfulfilled. There are those of us who have suffered from miscarriage or child loss, and the deep pain of expectant joy that is taken away too soon. There are those of us who can’t seem to be able to breastfeed no matter how hard they try and could feel like they are failing their kid.
And this is only the beginning of the list. With all of the struggles our beautiful mamas face out there, all the more do we need help. All the more do we need an advocate who can fill in the gaps. We are comforters that also need to be comforted. I love this line from Isaiah 66:11 (RSV) -
“that you may suck and be satisfied
with her consoling breasts;
that you may drink deeply with delight
from the abundance of her glory.”
Just as our children need our warmth and love, so too do we need consolation.The image of Our Lady of La Leche is a powerful one. Mary is nursing baby Jesus - the son of God. HER body is sustaining the life of God incarnate. What a profound way for us to look at our own bodies - as vessels for sustaining Christ within us and within our children.
This week, let us be inspired and comforted by Our Lady of La Leche. When we feel overwhelmed by the struggles of motherhood, may we rely on the abundance of her glory and drink with deep delight in the comfort she offers us.
Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us!
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in Florida
Photograph by Christine Rich
