A Prayer for Mother's Day

Holy one on this day we remember mothers. We recognize mothers and we acknowledge the complexities of motherhood, the blessings of motherhood, and the realities of motherhood-related sorrow and pain. We ask that you bless each mother, and mother-type figure in our lives on this special day. Hear us as we offer this blessing:

For mothers who have loved us and love us still
For mothers who have loved us and are no longer on this earth
For mothers of blended families who navigate complexity with grit and grace

For children, small and grown, who miss and mourn their mothers on this day
For mothers who did their best and mothers who faced obstacles socially and financially, obstacles of mental and physical illness who feel like their best was less than
For mothers whose trauma looms or loomed large, and mothers who have felt inadequate

For mothers whose children left this earth much too soon, for mothers who grieve over the physical absence of their children
For birth mothers who relinquished the children they carried and birthed, for foster mothers who provided a first home to children in need of a mother
For mothers by adoption who are tasked with mothering not only a child, but the child’s losses and griefs.
For adoptees who carefully divide their time between gratitude and grief.

For those who long to be mothers
For mothers whose pregnancies ended in empty arms and broken hearts.

For those who choose not to be mothers, who help to nurture those around them in other ways through relationships.

For spiritual mothers who have guided us, for stand-in mothers who have loved without question.

God , hear our prayer.

Amen.