A Mother’s Kiss: The Hail Mary Prayer

My little love invented a fun new game recently.  He walks to one side of the room, starts to yell and then runs as fast as his sweet, tiny legs will take him to the other side of the room.  He was doing this game of back and forth for some time this morning as I was washing the dishes.  I laughed as his delightful yell vibrated with each staggering run he made across the room.   

Unfortunately, he went too fast on one of his departures, stumbled and fell to the floor hitting his head.   I try to stay calm when he gets hurt, as it happens frequently.  I’ve realized that if I address his pain with tranquility, comfort and reassurance, he will recover much faster than if I get nervous and make a big fuss (as I used to do when he was younger and each occurrence would send me into a panic.) 
 
He immediately stood up and ran over to me, crying and telling me in his frenzied baby language that he hit his head, holding his chubby hand to where it hit the floor.  I sat down on the floor and he threw himself into my arms.  As I kissed his head and soothed him, rocking him back and forth, I heard his sobs begin to subside and his breathing become more regular.  He pulled his head off my shoulder, his eyes red and still full of fresh tears, and again told me how he fell and hit his head.   He then started to smile as I assured him that everything was okay and that mommy’s kisses can make it all better and we both began to laugh hysterically as I kissed under his chin and softly tickled his belly.  Twenty seconds later,  he was off, laughing and playing again.
 
Going back to washing the dishes, it hit me that what had just happened is an echo of the type of care that our Blessed Virgin Mary has for us, her children.  Just as I will be there to comfort and console my son in any time of need, our Blessed Virgin Mary is there for us in all our struggles—big or small.   She is our Mother and we should always run to Her to intercede for us.  I find it equally important to bring moments of joy and triumph to her as she celebrates our successes just as much as she comforts us in our times of affliction.
 
Praying the Holy Rosary each day is a wonderful way to stay close to our Blessed Virgin Mary and to always draw nearer to her Son, Jesus.  Sometimes, a simple yet effective Hail Mary prayer will suffice.  Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, said “Invoke our Lady and you'll be faithful."   When my son first fell and ran over to me, in between hugging, soothing and kissing him back to his usual happy and playful self, I quietly said a Hail Mary.  It is something that takes me a few seconds, but for me, praying the Holy Rosary or even saying a Hail Mary is the same as when I hug and rock my son when he needs some loving. 

Life is both wonderful and difficult, beautiful and sorrowful.  As I continue this journey of life home to everlasting life in heaven, I thank God for giving us the gift of having our Blessed Virgin Mary to turn to in times of laughter and sadness, joy and suffering, triumphs and difficulties. 
 
One of my favorite quotes from Saint Maximilian Kolbe which perfectly describes the love of our Blessed Virgin Mary is “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” 

​As always, thank you for reading.  God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!