A Mother's Day Prayer

Mother's Day is both joyful and dreaded.

Our Prayer for the People from Sunday May 13 reflects the light and darkness of the day.

May the Spirit of gentleness meet you where you are:


A Prayer for Mother’s Day, by Rev. Carson Overstreet 5/13/18


Holy God and Loving Friend,

We give you thanks today for your promised and steadfast love. You gather your children together as a mother hen gathers her brood under her wings. You are the patient father waiting to welcome your wayward children home. No matter how much we wander from you or even resist your love, you love us still.

Lord God we recognize both the joy and challenge of this Sunday.

We give thanks to the women in our lives whom we know and love as mother. For those of us who cherish healthy relationships, we do give you thanks for a mother’s selfless love, encouragement, support and rich legacies that have been passed down.

We also give you thanks for the women in our lives who are mother figures to us. Thank you for placing your Deborahs in our lives (Judges 4-5). These women teach us who we are in your love, inspire us to reach for the stars, and challenge us to seek your hope that we can hold onto everyday.

But in this space it is right to share our laments. For many, this day holds grief for the strained relationship that seems to be beyond repair. There is a piece of someone’s heart missing as that son or daughter is not able to come home and be with family today. There is sadness for the empty chair - the one we cannot call on the phone today. There are broken dreams of infertility, miscarriage, and child loss.

We lift all these to you Loving God and we pray for your Spirit to embrace each of us in your grace. Grant us peace that surpasses our understanding. And speak to us your truth once again that you will surely go with us to climb every mountain and to fight every battle with your strength that never wanes or wearies.

Lead us into the promises of your kingdom, for we pray for it with boldness using the prayer Jesus taught us say....Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.