[Authoress’s Notes:

[All I have to say is that it isn’t addressed to my Mother.  Someone else’s.  But it can certainly be looked at as any incarnation of the universal Mother Goddess (which includes the Virgin Mary, if anyone’s interested).

[Edited 4.1.2004, in light of some recent events]

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“For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight

His can’t be wrong whose life is in the right.”

--Alexander Pope

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Mother, help them see –

They don’t even have to comprehend,

and certainly not accept as their own,

but let them see that what we believe

has merit, too; that our faith is no

weaker than theirs, and no less valid.

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Mother, help them see –

Help them understand that religion is about more

than texts and psalms and recitations,

more than rituals and words.

Help them see that religion is a feeling,

an experience, unique to each person.

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Mother, help them see –

Guide them so that they no longer feel compelled

to torment and condemn those of us

who do not see as they do.

Help them learn that their way is not the only one,

that it takes all kinds to make this world we live in.

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Mother, help them see –

Help them feel compassion for their fellow beings,

not just those who share their creed,

but those whom they now persecute and oppress.

Teach them the value of learning, of tolerance,

and of variety, the kaleidoscope of peoples.

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Mother, help them see –

Open their eyes, and open their

hearts.  Turn aside their anger

and blind hatred, so that they will no longer

slander us, or condemn us for that which they

do not understand and only seek to hate.

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Mother, help them see –

Show them that it is not the creed

which makes a person great,

but the love and tolerance in the heart,

the good deeds done, the good intentions

shown, and the compassion for others.

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Help them see it is not what is in the mind that makes a soul good or bad,

but rather what dwells in the heart.