Ginny Olson

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. — Kaitlin Hardy Shetler Artwork: Nichole Lanthier