A Prayer for Mother’s Day
by Rev. Blair Thompson-White
God of Every Day,
On this day
we are encouraged
to remember mothers—
Not all of us feel
the same way
on this day.
Some of us celebrate our mother
We give thanks for her support
and influence
the ways she nurtures and guides us
For mothers who show us your love,
Lord, hear our prayer.
But some of us can’t celebrate
We are distant from
our mother
disappointed,
hurt and bitter
towards her
For mothers who cannot or could not show us your love,
and for children who struggle to forgive,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Some of us can’t celebrate
because our mom is
no longer with us
we miss her
and while we hold
on to memories
we really just want
to hold her again and
let her hold us again
For children who miss their mothers, who feel motherless,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Some of us can’t celebrate
because we are too tired
being mothers
we play and listen and teach
we worry about our children
we worry that we are not
good enough mothers
For women who are raising children and
those who are empty nesters but still raising children,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Some of us can’t celebrate
because we are not mothers
some of us wanted to be
some of us didn’t want to be
some of us wonder
if we are thought less of
or if we are missing something
For women who are not mothers,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Some of us can’t celebrate
because we mourn the loss of our children
disagreement and conflict have
caused a break in our relationship
Some of us can’t celebrate
because our children have died
we join with mothers around the world who
have walked with their child through
illness and disease,
those whose children have died from
accidents, natural disasters,
and hunger
For mothers who have lost children,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Whatever this day holds for us
you hold all of our mothers
and all who mother us,
and you hold us.
Hold us now
as we hold the silence together…
Amen.
