Lesson 6 - Mother Eve

When my children were younger, I wrote poems on their lunch sacks every school day. They were simple snippets of words that always rhymed. My youngest daughter now doesn’t consider a poem to be a real poem unless the lines rhyme. I do appreciate poetry, but will not typically sit down and read a book of poetry. I have failed to complete a poetry book the few times I have tried to be “cultured” by reading poetry.

Lamentation

That being said, I recently read a poem that touched me deeply, and it doesn’t rhyme. It was filled with meaningful thought and, as I read, I found tears streaming down my face. This poem, Lamentation by Arta Romney Ballif, is a thoughtfully written poem about Eve’s experiences as a mother and wife. We all know the story of Cain and Abel, but I hadn’t previously considered their experience through the lens of their mother, Eve. This moving poem brought that perspective to me.

I have a three-month-old grandson living in my home right now. As I was reading the lines of the poem where Eve tries to teach Cain and Abel that the world is for them, for their enjoyment, I remembered yesterday as I was holding this sweet grandson of mine. His smiles and laughter warmed my heart, and I found myself working hard to get him to smile and laugh. His joy was my joy. Life was wonderful simply because we were together. I want him to grow and be happy, to find joy in this life. And I want to protect him from all the ugliness that is out in the world.

Grief, Love, and Support

I cannot fathom the overwhelming grief that must have swept over Eve as she learned that one son had killed another son. Grief itself was a new emotion to this valiant woman. How was she supposed to deal with this raw emotion? She had such high hopes, and they were crushed at the word “dead.” How did Adam help her understand? Did he hold her? His own grief must have been overpowering, and yet he was there to support his beloved wife. I am sure he loved and supported her because that is how my husband would react.

Mother Love

Sister Ballif showed mother love in her words where Eve is concerned about Cain as a vagabond and a wanderer. We think of him as the bad guy, but Eve would have thought of him as her son. She didn’t condone his actions, of course, but she still loved him. Her worry about bread for him and mending his coat shows a mother’s love. As mothers, we want to protect our children and help in any way we can.

Follow the Pattern

Although we know Eve didn’t have answers to all of her “why” questions, we do know that she continued living a faithful life. She recognized opposition in all things and joy that is found in turning to Christ (Moses 5:11). Adam and Eve turned to the Lord together to get through this immense trial in their life, and in so doing, set a pattern that we can follow when trials come into our marriages. As we face challenges in our day, covenantal spouses will love and sustain each other, relying together on the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and He will see them through.

Lamentation
By Arta Romney Ballif

And God said, "BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY—"

Multiply, multiply—echoes multiply—

God said, ''I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY THY SORROW—"'

Thy sorrow, sorrow, sorrow—

I have gotten a man from the Lord

I have traded the fruit of the garden for the fruit of my body

For a laughing bundle of humanity.

And now another one who looks like Adam.

We shall call this one "Abel "

It is a lovely name, “Abel."

Cain, Abel, the world is yours.

God set the sun in the heavens to light your days

To warm the flocks, to kernel the grain

He illuminated your nights with stars

He made the trees and the fruit thereof yielding seed

He made every living thing, the wheat, the sheep, the cattle

For your enjoyment.

And, behold, it is very good

Adam? Adam,

Where art thou?

Where are the boys?

The sky darkens with clouds.

Adam, is that you?

Where is Abel?

He is long caring for his flocks.

The sky is black and the rain hammers.

Are the ewes lambing

Is this storm?

Why your troubled face, Adam?

Are you ill?

Why so pale, so agitated?

The wind will pass

The lambs will birth

With Abel’s help.

Dead?

What is dead?

Merciful God!

Hurry, bring warm water

I’ll bathe his wounds

Bring clean clothes

Bring herbs

I’ll heal him.

I am trying to understand. You said, “Abel is dead.”

But I am skilled with herbs

Remember when he was seven

The fever? Remember how—

Herbs will not heal?

Dead?

And Cain? Where is Cain?

Listen to that thunder.

Cain Cursed?

What has happened to him?

God said, “A fugitive and a vagabond”?

But God can’t do that.

They are my sons, too.

I gave them birth

In the valley of pain

Adam, try to understand

In the valley of pain

I bore them

fugitive?

vagabond?

This is home

This soil he loved

Where he toiled for golden wheat

For tasseled corn.

To the hill country?

There are rocks in the hill country

Cain can’t work in the hill country

The nights are cold

Cold and lonely, and the wind gales.

Quick, we must find him

A basket of bread and his coat

I worry, thinking of him wandering

With no place to lay his head.

Cain cursed?

A wanderer. A roamer?

Who will bake his bread and mend his coat?

Abel, my son. Dead?

And Cain, my son, a fugitive?

Two sons

Adam, we had two sons

Both—Oh, Adam—

multiply

sorrow

Dear God, Why?

Tell me again about the fruit

Why?

Please tell me again

Why?