It's mothers day here in New Zealand this Sunday and I've tried to write a prayer giving thanks for Mothers that acknowledges changing roles as children grow into adulthood. I've tried to do it with warmth and almost a bit whimsical.
The prayer also tries to pick up and acknowledges the pain of mother's no longer with us. We just had my oldest daughter's graduation from university this last week (BE with fist class honours he said with great pride) and she was the first of the grandchildren to do so in our family. my wife's mother was with us, but it was this morning as i wrote this prayer that Kris (my wife) and I acknowledged that yes there was someone missing (Nana Carter).
The prayer also acknowledges the pain of people for whom experience of their mothers may not be all love and light. To Acknowledge those who have not had children and those who are still wrestling with the trying and with hope.
Please feel free to use this pray and make it your own, if you find a line or part helpful and good then please use it. if not that's cool. if you have some thoughts on how it could be better please feel free to let me know...
Loving God we
thank you for mothers
For loving
us as only a mother can
Sharing laughter
and smiles
Lavishing affection,
affirmation and praise
Acts of
service, like loads of loads of laundry and school lunches
Growing along
with us to love in ways we do not outgrow
For carrying
us and caring for us
Cuddling and
cheering us on
consoling and
cheering us up
Letting go,
stepping back, so we learn how to grow
Calling and
listening just when we needed it
For looking
after us with all that that entails
Looking out
for our best
Just Looking
for, when we’ve lost it
And, that
Look, when we’ve needed or deserved it
And Looking in
to check, just to see how we’re going
For nourishing
and nurturing us
Motivating,
and yes even nagging us when needed
Navigating with
us through the challenges of our ages
Noticing our
pain and naming our hurt
Not giving
up on us, no not at all
for having us, Holding us
and helping us
Healing our scraped
knees and deeper wounded soul
Heralding our
progress and speaking hope when we fail
Heading us
in new directions, even if it was sometimes simply ‘off to bed’
Having us
care for them, as age seems to reverse roles
Loving God
we thank you for mothers
Our biological
mothers,
For mother’s
mothers, grand ma’s and those who are great
Our mothers
of the faith
For carers and
guardians
The women
who have invested so much into our upbringing and life
Mentors,
heroines and inspiration to greater heights
Father God,
Forgive us
for the hurts we have inflicted on mothers
Knowingly and
in ignorance and in good left undone
we acknowledge
that mothers are not perfect
help us to
forgive the mistakes that are made
In our
broken and hurting land we know all is not well
we bring the
pain of abuse and neglect to you
We place it
all in your loving hands
Today we
bring the sharp sorrow for some that she is no longer with us
We bring the
struggle of what could have been and never was
And those wrestling
with trying to conceive
We hold
before you the hurt of it not going as planned
Seeming to
be powerless as, for children, it all gets out of hand
We pray for
our Mothers
That you
would bless them
Fill them
with your spirit
Empower them
to love more
Give them
wisdom to guide and direct
Give them
rest and time for themselves
Lord God we
thank you for mothers
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