God is described in images that use both male and female characteristics. God, of course, is neither masculine nor feminine but the predominant picture of God we tend to have is that of God as male. This painting emphasises the image of God as mother and as feminine. Picturing God as mother has as Elizabeth Johnson says “great positive power to connote the creative source and origin of life” (Quest for the Living God” 2007 page 100). Julian of Norwich reiterates that God is truly our Father but also truly our Mother and John Paul I said that God is our father but even more God is our mother.

The painting presents the compassionate or merciful love (in Hebrew rehem) of God which originated from the root word for a woman’s uterus. This is reflected in the image of the birth of the child.  There are many references to the mother as an image for God as in Isaiah 49:15

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

   and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

Though she may forget,

   I will not forget you! (NIV)