A portion of today’s prayer is inspired by words from Amy Young. I invite you to please join me in prayer.

God of comfort, care, and courage, we praise you for you have been good to us. Whether we are in despair or joy, we try our hardest to pinpoint where you are present in our lives, revealing your grace.

So, God of grace, reveal yourself to the hurting. We pray for people who have been impacted by the weather. We pray for places like the south of Brazil where flooding has brought a scarcity of food, water, and shelter. Bring hope, food, water, and shelter to that community.

We pray for those who are sick and are in search of healing. Be with people’s bodies as they talk with medical professionals. Grant them relief and calm anxieties.

On this Mother Day we thank you for women, people created in your image. We know that today for many is so joyful, and for other it is a complicated time.

To those who gave birth this year— God we know you celebrate.

To those who lost a child this year – God we know you mourn with them.

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we know you give them the energy to do care.

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you and pray for comfort.

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – God, we know you walk with them. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we thank you, God, for this much-needed gift.

To those who have warm and close relationships with their children – we celebrate these relationships that look like your love.

To those who have disappointment, heartache, and distance with their children – we know you sit in their discomfort and are a shoulder to cry on.

To those who lost their mothers this year – be in their grief.

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of their own mother – may you guide their pain and hurt.

To those who step-parent – we know you walk with them on these complex paths.

To those who chose not to be mothers—bless them on their journey and protect them from fields of those who want to shame.

To those who placed children up for adoption — comfort them and remind them that you care for your children.

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –be in their anticipation.

And in these desperate times of war, we pray for the Mothers in Gaza and Sudan who are grieving the loss of their children and live in fear that there is more death yet to come. We pray for safety and an end to this violence and war where there are no more places to seek refuge. May compassion and love allow for aid to come in so that their children can be fed and a have safe place to rest their heads. 

For the mothers in Israel who have children who are hostages, bring peace to their fear as their loved ones are held hostage, we pray for a safe reunion of these families.

God we know that Mother’s day is a beautiful and complicated day more many, yet, this Mother’s Day, may the women in our lives feel seen by you God, who, as Julian of Norwich says, “As truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother.”

We pray for the week ahead and spring has sprung, that we may see signs of resurrection. May they encourage us to be strong in the ways that point people to your love and grace.

In your name we pray as Jesus taught us…

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.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.