Child Leaping for Joy Icon

I've always been attracted to icons of Mary, the Theotokos. A few times I have experienced great mercy and compassion sitting in front of her. That is why I was struck by reading "Mother Mary - Spirit of Mary" in The Lessons: How to Understand Spiritual Principles, Spiritual Activities, and Rising Emotions by Rev. Sandra Casey-Martus and Carla Mancari. (Remember that this book is made up of short sections entitled "lessons" and is more of a workbook about contemplative prayer than a book to read in one sitting.)

I especially liked these points about Mary:

"In the spirit of Mary, you may rest in a mother's expression of consciousness. When you feel unloved, unwanted, and not appreciated, it is Mary's spirit that dries your tears and tenderly holds you."

"The spirit of Mary loves you in places you could never conceive--in the deepest crevices of your heart, in the most disparate moments of your life, and during your most unlovable moments."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Icon of the Mother of God Joyful

The "Joyful" (Vzigranie) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared near Moscow on November 7, 1795 . Nothing is known of the history of the icon, except that many miracles have taken place before it.

Icons of this name are found in the Novodevichy Monastery in Moscow, and in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt Athos. In appearance, the "Joyful" Icon resembles the "Pelagonitissa" Icon, a variant of the Glykophylousa ("Sweet-Kissing") or Eleousa type.

The Icon is sometimes called "Child Leaping for Joy."

Then I went looking for Glykophylousa ("Sweet-Kissing") icon:

Mother of God (Glykophylousa)

You can see by the other icons I've posted about, I like this type of "sweet kissing" or "loving kindness" icon best of all.