Happy Mother's Day
I often wonder if I have lived
in Peru a bit too long because some of the rarest, most simplest things fill my
heart and make Christ’s presence known in such a real way to me. Perhaps it is
not a bad thing, but I ask this question after spending the day yesterday with
my dear friend Maritza. It was a wonderful day and it even got better right
before we were about to leave. See one of the pigs properly named Negra that we
bought Maritza a few years back was about to give birth to her 4th
set of baby piglets. We had been keeping an eye on her off and on during our
visit and decided to check on her once again before heading out. When we
arrived at her corral, we saw that Negra had already given birth to one baby, but
it had not survived. Maritza tried to save it and she was in tears that the
baby piglet was dead. But her tears turned to joy a few minutes after because
here came the rest of the piglets. One, two, three, I was amazed at how quickly
they were coming, and Maritza so lovingly took each one, removed the protective
sack that they came out in, cleaned them, and returned them to their mother so
they could eat. Negra gave birth to a total of 12 baby piglets. Her body, so perfectly
designed and equipped for the job of motherhood. Maybe it is weird to say but watching
Negra give birth and Maritza take such good care of her and her piglets made my
heart full.
We all know that pigs have a bad reputation and oftentimes
are not the most desirable animal and just the same I find that unwed mothers are
thought of in the same manner. Throughout the Bible, we are given many symbols
of a pig. The Symbol of Uncleanliness, Leviticus
11:7. “And the pig, though it has a divided
hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. As Symbols of destruction
and punishment, we can find in Psalm 80: 13, “Boars from the forest ravage it and insects from the
fields feed on it.” They are even used as a symbol of rejected worship and
sacrifice as we find in Isaiah 66:3 “whoever makes a grain offering
is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is
like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they
delight in their abominations.” Pigs are even a symbol of foolishness in Proverbs
11:22 “A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s
snout.” Luke even writes of the prodigal son wherein he writes “So he
went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his
fields to feed pigs.” Luke 15:15
And who can forget the story of Jesus casting
the demons out of the two men and into the herd of pigs found in Matthew 8:28-34
“ He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and
the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.”
As you can see, we can find many associations
in the bible where pigs are not mentioned in a positive light. A quick search
on the internet about pigs and motherhood will give you the sight of a grim
world we live in that believes that cruelty to pigs is allowed and gives us a
snapshot of how pigs are beneath man.
With that said, I find here in Peru and in
my personal experience in the USA as a single mother that often than not unwed
mothers are treated just as harshly. Outcasted, kept at a distance,
undeserving, not equal to, shunned from church communities because their marriage
failed, left to take all the blame, abandoned, and stripped of all dignity, and
the list goes on.
However, on this day I could not help
but notice my dear friend Maritza taking such gentle care of her pig Negra and her
piglets. Maritza made sure her children were by her side, and she carefully explained
and taught them how to care for each piglet upon their arrival into this world.
I also took in the fact that this unwed
mother finds self-worth and dignity in caring for all of her pigs and piglets. This
so-called filthy, unclean animal allows her to provide for her family.
Maritza, an outcast many would say,
treats this unclean pig with the utmost respect and love.
What I feel many people forget about
Pigs and Unwed Mothers is the fact that both are creations made by God. Despite the chocolates and the flowers, we
brought Maritza for Mother’s Day, Jesus gave Maritza possibly the best Mother’s
Day gift ever, 11 piglets, a gift that would allow her to carry her cross of
being a single mother just a little easier.
Yesterday I was delighted at what the Lord
had to show me in Maritza and Negra, two loving Mothers, both deserving of respect,
love, and compassion. Both ready and willing to serve Jesus in the way only
they can fulfill here on earth.
May our hearts be moved to compassion
and love for all the unwed single mothers who are hidden in the shadows of the
outcasted, abandoned, and forgotten, who so bravely carry their crosses daily
in hopes to one day hear, “well done good and faithful servant”.
Karen and Gabreil Del Castillo
Mission post : Santa Clara, Amazonas, Peru -
Santa Maria Magdalena's Home
