Today has me thinking about the women in my life. Other than two significant men—my husband and father—my life is a rich tapestry of relationships with women. There’s my mother of course, that strong thread of gold woven throughout my life. My sister’s thread appeared often in the earlier parts of the tapestry—sometimes slightly dark and knotty. Now it appears less often, but has transformed into the warm, welcoming colours of familiarity and friendship. My daughters’ threads are light and lovely—the colour of sky, sea and hope. They intertwine playfully with the vibrant swirls of my nieces’ threads.

On the edges of my tapestry, the wistful patterns made by long-gone grandmothers or distant aunts and cousins, sometimes fill me with a sense of nostalgia. Yet, I feel gratitude that they remain forever a precious part of my life.

The threads of friends are closer to the centre of the weaving. They form a riot of different colours and unique shapes. Some have been a part of the design for a long time. Some appear and then re-appear again later. Some have only just emerged, but are already full of joyful life and colour.

I am so very grateful for each feminine thread in the tapestry of my life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Every part of this tapestry is beautiful to me. I am keenly aware that your own tapestries might have much simpler designs than mine. This does not make them any less lovely or precious. Today is a good day to consider and value the women in our lives and also how important it is to weave friendship, comfort and blessing into each other’s lives.

Writing on what he calls ‘the lost art of blessing’, Irish author John O’Donohue, says:

“Our longing for the eternal kindles our imagination to bless. Regardless of how we configure the eternal, the human heart continues to dream of a state of wholeness, a place where everything comes together, where loss will be made good, where blindness will transform into vision, where damage will be made whole, where the clenched questions will open in the house of surprise, where the travails of a life’s journey will enjoy a homecoming. To invoke a blessing is to call some of that wholeness upon a person now.”

With this in mind, I have written ‘Blessing for a Woman.

This is my gift for every woman who is a precious thread in somebody’s tapestry.

 

BLESSING FOR A WOMAN

 

When the world proclaims the face of beauty

and it’s not the one you see in the mirror,

May you awaken to, embrace

and celebrate your unique loveliness.

 

When voices and hands clamour for attention

as time falls endlessly through the hourglass,

May you hear your own unspoken voice

and be mindful to her pleas.

 

When harsh words cut you down

and open long-forgotten wounds,

May you, beloved daughter of a King,

stand tall in your dignity and worth.

 

When the shroud of sorrow and pain

or the darkness of confusion blinds you,

May the dawn of hope

awaken you to your neglected dreams.

 

When the day’s demands turn to drudgery

casting grey shadows over all you hold dear,

May a spirit of adventure and courage

instil you with fresh life and joy.

 

May breezes often kiss your face,

Friendship’s gift be a soft, safe place

And may you dance daily in the Arms of Grace.