Two Mothers

Long, long ago, so I’ve been told
Two angels met on streets paved with gold.

“By the stars on your crown,” said one to the other,
“I see that on earth you too were a mother.”
“And by the blue tinted halo that you now wear,
You too have known sorrow and deepest despair.

“Oh yes,” came the answer, “I once had a son,
A sweet little lad full of laughter and fun.
But tell of your child.” “Oh I knew I was blest
From the moment I first held him close to my breast.
And my heart almost burst from the joy of that day.”

“Ah yes,” said the other, “I felt the same way.”
The former continued, “The first steps he took,
So eager and breathless, the sweet startled look
Which came over his face -- he trusted me so.”

“Ah yes,” said the other, “I felt the same pride.”
How often I shielded and spared him from pain,
And when he for others was cruelly slain,
When they crucified him and spat in his face
How gladly would I have hung in his place.”

A moment of silence “Oh then you are she --
The mother of Christ,” then she fell on one knee.
But the blessed one raised her up, drawing her near,
And kissed from the face of the woman a tear.
That I may share your grief and your woe,
Tell me the name of the son you loved so.”


She lifted her eyes and looked straight at the other.
“He was Judas Iscariot ~ I am his mother.”

Author Unknown