God’s Gracious Chain of Loving Care: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we move into May, many of us think of Mother’s Day. It is a day to celebrate and remember the blessings of mothers, and all those who have cared for us. It can be a joyful day, but sometimes also difficult.
This day is fraught for me, as it may be for some others. I have learned to focus on three things. First, gratitude – to remember, honor, and express gratitude for the time I had with my child. Second, thankfulness to God -- for my mother, and all the people our Lord of Grace has put into my life who nurtured and mentored me along life’s way. Third, a call to action -- I am reminded that I am part of God’s gracious chain of loving care, and God calls all of us to support and nurture those He brings into our lives. As we read in I Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” – on Mother’s Day and all through the year!
In this spirit, we offer two Mother’s Day prayers, as well as links for more inspiration for your prayer life.
Prayers for a Mother’s Day: A Prayer to Help Me Enjoy My Children
(Sometimes in the midst of a busy life, all we have time for is a simple, heart-felt prayer!)
“Lord, help me to put down the work
and play with my kids.
Help me to enjoy them more,
laugh a lot
and be fun to be around.”
To the Moms Who Are
To the Moms who are struggling, to those filled with incandescent joy.
To the Moms who are remembering children who have died, and pregnancies that miscarried.
To the Moms who decided other parents were the best choice for their babies, to the Moms who adopted those kids and loved them fierce.
To those experiencing frustration or desperation in infertility.
To those who knew they never wanted kids, and the ways they have contributed to our shared world.
To those who mothered colleagues, mentees, neighborhood kids, and anyone who needed it.
To those remembering Moms no longer with us.
To those moving forward from Moms who did not show love, or hurt those they should have cared for.
Today is a day to honor the unyielding love and care for others we call 'Motherhood,' wherever we have found it and in whatever ways we have found to cultivate it within ourselves.
Prayers taken from:
“Prayers for a Mother’s Day: A Prayer to Help Me Enjoy My Children.” Deb Weakly. https://helpclubformoms.com/prayers-for-a-mothers-day-a-prayer-to-help-me-enjoy-my-children/
“To the Moms Who Are.” Hannah Kardon, Pastor at Elston Avenue United Methodist Church. https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/mothers-day-prayers
Looking for more inspiration?
“12 Beautiful Prayers for Mother's Day.”
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/beautiful-prayers-for-moms-this-mothers-day.html
“Beautiful Mother's Day Prayers to Honor and Bless Your Mom!” Crosswalk. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/mother-s-day-prayers-to-encourage-and-uplift.html