We celebrate the birth of a child who was revealed to be Christ. At Christmas his birth sings out in Nativity Plays in thousands of schools enacted by thousands of children watched by loving Mothers and tearful emotional fathers.

It is to the mothers we salute.

Mary in perfect union with her divine son shared all his early joys and sorrows. She advanced her on her pilgrimage of faith and loyally remained close to her son as far as the cross. There she united her mothers heart to his sacrifice and consented to the offering up of the victim whom she had brought forth. In war torn Iraq in Palestine in the area of the Holy Birth mothers see their children sacrificed wounded maimed hourly daily weekly monthly yearly they do not have a celebration merely a burial.

On the plains of starvation in Africa there is conservation for precious species of animals soon to be extinct but none for children. In war torn African States ravaged by Thugs and Criminals the World Aid is stolen fortunes are made on the Black Market.

Mothers of starving children born with Aids plead for mercy and receive rape and mutilation.

Village mothers in these guiltless countries knowing that death will leave children orphans willingly give their children to City Relations and into slavery.

It is not prostitution it is the survival of her children. She does not sell her body she gives it for her children. Her short life is tormented in fear in illness in starvation in bondage in uncivilised conditions as she stands in line for a ration of meal water a minimum subsistence.

Mothers in the rich world in inner cities kept alive by social security and housed by welfare do not live in tents on plains of hell but dwell in estates of madness drugged addicts are her neighbours, gangs and burglars are her unwanted visitors. The toll is malnutrition for her to feed her children. Debt to clothe them, abused by collectors, condemned by churchgoers their agencies and the Right Wing Boris as a Spectator.

No supportive extended family for her alone at home.

The mother alone in hard to let, long hours at work to feed and clothe, lays down her life her health to scrimp and save to give at Xmas a toy a light of happiness for her child.

Mothers who just get by still work and sacrifice to give to care to feed to meet the Xmas Gift "DEMAND" of games and electronic things beyond her means beyond her understanding.

Daughters dress up to fashion boys to crave notice, all designer labelled head to toe. Their mothers strive to meet the exhausting Demands of debt and pain.

FOR WHAT?

Mary accepted the Holy Plan for our salvation and was recognised at the Cross.

May we recognise all mothers on fields of pain in cities at war in tented homes. May we recognise all mothers IN DEBT to care and clothe and whose life is given to love and protection.

THANK YOU MUM

HAPPY CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year

(Ed: Apologies for the late inclusion of this - it should have been released Christmas day but, makes a nice late gift for the readers.)