On This Mother's Day...

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks for mothers.
We give thanks for the mothers who nurture, encourage, and support their children,
for mothers who laugh and play and love,
for mothers bouncing infants, chasing toddlers, chauffeuring busy preteens,
and preparing their high schoolers to fly;
for mothers who see still see their adult children as always being their babies,
for mothers who have become grandmothers and almost always have candy in their purses…
Thank you, God, for these mothers whose laughter can lighten a room, whose love fills their families to overflowing, and whose words both delight and inspire.
We rejoice with all who are rejoicing today.

Yet we also acknowledge the pain that can accompany us on Mother’s Day –
the sorrow for those who miss their mothers, who await their families in heaven;
the despair of those whose mothers are living and who wish to see them or be seen by them, but do not or cannot for a multitude of reasons;
the anguish for those whose mothers are sick or dying;
the heartbreak of those who have been neglected, abused, or abandoned by their mothers…

And we remember those who grieve for children on this Mother’s Day…
for those whose children are sick, and for those whose children have died,
for those who desperately desire children but cannot have them,
for those whose children live far away,
for those who are estranged or separated from their children,
for those who have placed children for adoption, and for those whose children have been taken away…
We sit in pain with all of our loved ones and our kindred in Christ who mourn today.

We also give thanks for all of the people you have sent to us, who speak words of life into us each day -
for all the people who listen and tell us we are loved and worthy;
for all the people who wipe tears and offer us hope when we’re afraid;
for all the people who know just the right thing to say,
and for the ones who know that actions sometimes speak louder than words…
for teachers and mentors and counselors, for aunts and grandmothers and best friends,
for stepmoms and foster moms and spiritual moms…
we give thanks for the lovingkindness they breathe into each of us.

We honor all of your experiences, and we pray Christ's peace be with each of you. May you know this day and all days that God's love surrounds you, in joy, in trial, and in all of life's phases. Amen.