The 23rd Psalm on Mother’s Day
What would you dedicate to your mother?
Mother’s Day is, of course, just around the corner. It’s a day – along with Father’s Day – that I’m a tad ambivalent about. While not actually invented by Hallmark, as the common lore has it, the day’s founder – Anna Jarvis – soon became quite resentful of how Hallmark and others exploited the day to their gain. Given that history, one wonders why we need a special day to honor our mothers (or fathers) – I mean, why not honor them every day?
At the same time, I think I have a great mom (and dad!), and I think my wife, my sisters, and my sisters-in-law and mother-in-law are all great moms to boot. So why not take the occasion to give them more of the due they indeed deserve every day? Or maybe it’s more than giving them due. Maybe it would make more sense to dedicate some act of kindness, some good deed, simply to recognize the good they have done in your life.
It’s in that spirit that I’m putting below Bobby McFerrin’s adaption of the 23rd Psalm, dedicated to his mother. It’s a striking piece, all the most so for the improvisational freedom McFerrin exercises with the words. I’ll put it below, along with a link to the episode of On Being where he shares the story behind the song. And, because I just can’t help it, I’ll also place links here to two of my other favorite pieces about mothers: Sarah Kay’s wonderful spoken-word poem “If I Should Ever Have a Daughter” (which is also available as an illustrated book
However you may celebrate it, have a good day.
Note: If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click the title at the top of the post to watch the video.
a more playful ‘song’ from Bobby McFerrin: https://www.ted.com/talks/bobby_mcferrin_hacks_your_brain_with_music
I loved it, partly because my mother and her mother, my Grandma, both had/have the gift of faith and they have been without a doubt the biggest influence on my faith life, faith in Jesus, of anyone else I know. My mother also always has shown faith in me all my life. She makes me believe that I am and always will be accepted and worthwhile with great capacity for good. Both women were/are exceptionally kind, compassionate and always spoke well of people. So I get why this man adapted this song as an ode to mother. It reflects the Lord’s goodness in that He created mothers, because he knew we’d need em’.