I am proud to highlight the work of writer Kaitlin Shetler today on my blog. When I came across this viral piece my heart nearly stopped and started at the same time. I had never thought about Mary this human before. Mary has always felt out of reach, this poem made her and Jesus more human and accessible, thus growing the capacity for my heart to love and honor. I thought about how limited the gospel has become only allowing half of God’s image to speak in most pulpits. Thank you, Kaitlin may you allow these words to disrupt and transform you.
sometimes I wonder
if Mary breastfed Jesus.
if she cried out when he bit her
or if she sobbed when he would not latch.
and sometimes I wonder
if this is all too vulgar
to ask in a church
full of men
without milk stains on their shirts
or coconut oil on their breasts
preaching from pulpits off-limits to the Mother of God.
but then i think of feeding Jesus,
birthing Jesus,
the expulsion of blood
and smell of sweat,
the salt of a mother’s tears
onto the soft head of the Salt of the Earth,
feeling lonely
and tired
hungry
annoyed
overwhelmed
loving
and i think,
if the vulgarity of birth is not
honestly preached
by men who carry power but not burden,
who carry privilege but not labor,
who carry authority but not submission,
then it should not be preached at all.
because the real scandal of the Birth of God
lies in the cracked nipples of a
14 year old
and not in the sermons of ministers
who say women
are too delicate
to lead.
Follow Kaitlin’s Work Below:
www.facebook.com/kaitlinhardyshetler
Instagram is @theskeptileptic
Kaitlin Shetler writes poems, rants, and love letters to pizza. She’s a 2w3, writing as an 8. She’s quick to jump on bandwagons and stans Tom Hanks and Leslie Knope. Kaitlin has her MSW and lives among piles of unfolded laundry with her patient husband and fearless 3-year-old daughter.
