by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2024
(May 10, 2024) — A long time ago, when the Viking men had sailed off to battle, there lived two sisters, each with child. Although they never got along, circumstances forced them to dwell together, in order to keep each other safe and cared for. In time, each sister gave birth to a baby boy, just days apart from one another.
One dreadful night, Freydis, the younger sister, awoke to find the child in her arms had died. She rocked and cried till sunrise. But, as the morning rays gave their light, Freydis saw that the baby was not hers, but that of her sister, Hilda. Rushing to Hilda’s bed, Freydis saw her own son in her sister’s arms. With a shriek, she woke them both and demanded Hilda return her baby.
For hours they argued, Hilda denying she had done such a wicked deed as switching her deceased child for her sister’s live one. Finally, the sisters agreed to take their problem before the wise woman, Bodil.
After listening to the sisters’ story and accusations, Bodil took a moment to study the women before her. Finally, she addressed her servant, “Draw your sword. Let the live child be shared between the two women equally.”
Without hesitation, Hilda held out the healthy baby to the servant. But Freydis threw herself between the child and sword, pleading, “No! Please! She may have the child; only let him live.”
Bodil nodded and, again, commanded her servant, “Give the baby to Freydis, for the one that was willing to give up all for the child’s life is its mother.”
When the women had left, the servant inquired of the wise woman, “How did you come to your decision? Just because Freydis wanted the child to live does not mean it was hers.”
“Who gave birth to the child was not the question, but, rather, who was a mother to it. Did you see how Freydis stood before us, holding the deceased child in a tender, loving embrace the whole time, as if it were her own, while pleading for the life of the other. Now, both babies could not be hers.
“Hilda, on the other hand, stood cold, emotionless, and was ready to have the child divided. No. Hilda is no mother.”
Likewise the wisdom stands today: Even a woman who has never given birth can be a mother to numberless children and any and all in need of nurturing, guidance and love.
“Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child! For the [spiritual] children of the desolate one will be more than the children of the married wife, says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:1 AMPC