(photo: Migrant Mother Nipomo, California 1936 by Dorthea Lange)
If Mother's Day is the only day of the year the moms in your household feel honored it may be a good time to reflect on what you believe about mothers. Mother's Day is probably better celebrated by using it as a reminder that we should walk gratefully with them on a daily basis. If we come from homes where "Mother" is a word that evokes reverence and joy we must never take that for granted. If we come from broken families or homes where Mother didn't exactly hit homeruns with us we have to acknowlege they blessed us with the chance to do it a little bit better than they might have. One of the greatest gifts you can give your mother is a gift of prayer. Chances are she has prayed for you more than daily. Pray for her and then write that prayer in a card and send it to her. Here's a Mother's Day prayer that might help you get started on your own Mother's prayer.
Holy Father our Creator,
Holy Jesus our Brother,
Holy Spirit our Comforter,
we pray for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility,
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting,
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed,
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family,
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty,
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities,
for those who have children they do not want,
for those who raise children on their own,
for those who have lost a child,
for those who care for the children of others,
for those whose children have left home,
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen.
