Let it Be

These famous lines from the Beatles song of the same title were apparently written from a dream Paul McCartney had of his own mother, Mary, who had passed away.  They were so comforting to him that he wrote a song about them on the Beatles’ last album.

But these words are also taken from another Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She spoke words that were similar in Luke 1:38: “I am the Lord’s servant”, Mary answered.  “May it be to me as you have said”.  Then the angel left her.

It seems to be a bit of a coincidental overlap of these two phrases coming together in a very popular song. It’s actually a great song to sing in labour.  It’s soft and comforting, and the words, “Let it Be” are perfect for letting go of stress, anxiety and fear that are sometimes associated with labour.

These words really helped a mother who I was a doula for a few years ago.  She had a pre-existing condition that affected her spine, causing the bones to fuse.  It was very painful, and breathing was difficult at times.  Mom was concerned about labour, understandably so.  She wanted as natural a birth as possible, but also knew that it might be highly medicalized because of her condition.  Having an epidural was a real concern, not only during, but the after effects on her health.  She had a consultation with an anaesthetist prior to labour to discuss all these and more questions. 

Labour began.  Her partner, who worked in the banking sector, called contractions “transactions”, which, in a way they are!   Your uterus tightens, your baby descends with that squeeze.  A physical transaction.  We used the “Wet Feet” analogy (see previous blog of same title) and this really helped.  Labour was long and spotty (contractions stopped and started several times).  We used lot of positive affirmations like ‘Let it Be”.  We finally went to the hospital for an epidural when she was getting one contraction on top of the other and having trouble coping after many hours.

Her concerns re: the epidural melted away when the anesthetist said after administering it smoothly, “You’re the best patient I’ve had in 6 months!” We still needed to do frequent position changes for mother to be comfortable and baby to have space to move down.  And down baby came, into her mother’s waiting arms after the cord was cut.

This mom was so strong, before, during and after birth.  She knew what it was to live in pain.  She had lived with it for many years, and still does. 

Perhaps you do too.  May the words that Mary spoke, and that Paul McCartney wrote, help take you through the tough times.  Let God help you to let it go and let it be…..

Meditation:

When Mary the mother of Jesus said these words to the Angel, her life was about to change dramatically.  Yet, she took the stance of faith, of saying “Yes” to the heavenly visitor and going with God’s eternal plan for her life, and the life of the world.

Read the whole of Mary’s interaction with the angel in Luke 1:26-38.  Take note of what God may be saying to you through this passage and meditate on it.

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Doula Tip:

Perhaps you might want to download the Beatle’s song “Let it Be” and listen to it during your labour.  Here are the lyrics:

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be, be

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin’ until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Paul Mccartney / John Lennon