Journal entry by Joanne Negstad — May 13, 2018
Joanne was always adamant that, on Mother's Day, there should be inclusivity. For her, this meant birth mothers, adoptive mothers, birth mothers of adopted children, those who struggled with infertility, those who suffered miscarriages or have lost a child, surrogate mothers, those who act as mothers and, of course, grandmothers were included. This value of her's is one piece with her choosing, "Children of the Heavenly Mother" as the choir anthem at her funeral.
In speaking of that hymn, she would point out that all the images of God it contained were feminine images. She would ask rhetorically, "So why should we sing 'Father' in this hymn?" She liked the practice at our congregation of saying, "Our Father, our Mother, who art in heaven..." every time we say the Lord's prayer.
There must have been slights, innuendos and other forms of sexism she encountered in her pioneering, professional life. She almost never talked about them. There was conversation about conflicts she encountered in her work. These were always cast as differences of opinion or principal. She did not choose to frame these disputes as a form of sexism. But, it was clear that she was a champion of women's rights.
Today was a very hard day for me. Her favorite chair seemed more empty than ever. The presence of absence has hung with me from morning until night. Our faith community, Grace University Lutheran Church, recognized that I was struggling and they responded with compassion. The afternoon with my family was a gift and we did a beautiful litany in her honor. I am so blessed!
Blessings,
AlBridege
In speaking of that hymn, she would point out that all the images of God it contained were feminine images. She would ask rhetorically, "So why should we sing 'Father' in this hymn?" She liked the practice at our congregation of saying, "Our Father, our Mother, who art in heaven..." every time we say the Lord's prayer.
There must have been slights, innuendos and other forms of sexism she encountered in her pioneering, professional life. She almost never talked about them. There was conversation about conflicts she encountered in her work. These were always cast as differences of opinion or principal. She did not choose to frame these disputes as a form of sexism. But, it was clear that she was a champion of women's rights.
Today was a very hard day for me. Her favorite chair seemed more empty than ever. The presence of absence has hung with me from morning until night. Our faith community, Grace University Lutheran Church, recognized that I was struggling and they responded with compassion. The afternoon with my family was a gift and we did a beautiful litany in her honor. I am so blessed!
Blessings,
AlBridege
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