Mother ’s Day is coming soon. We now have four living generations in our family. Again this spring, we are blessed with a new Mom. Joana is pregnant, due in July, bringing a fifth great-grandchild into our family. Like my other four great-grandchildren, this child has been surrounded by love since conception.
Joana knows that being born in Canada into a middle-class family, supported through a professional education, means she can give her child, like my other four great-grandchildren, a future of enough food, shelter, education, freedom of religion, love of all people, and… we hope, peace.
This is not true for too many mothers in our world today. Violence, war, prejudice, and hunger are rampant in many other parts of the world. Even in Canada, some mothers live in fear. Yet every moment of every day, another woman is given the blessing of bringing new life into this chaotic world.
Mothers carry immense responsibility, regardless of their circumstances. They can choose to teach love and acceptance rather than greed and vengeance. Their children will lead us on our much needed path to world peace. Surely, they need our prayers.
The Biblical prophet Isaiah uses the image of a mother and her child to remind us of the depth of God’s love. Speaking particularly of times when fear and suffering over-shadow hope and life, when a mother could even forget the child she is nursing,(speaking for God) Isaiah says “Even if these forget, I will never forget my own.” (Isaiah 49:15) That promise holds for every mother, every child, and every person in this world.
I believe that our prayers make a difference. I believe every kind, loving, caring thought we have joins with those of others to bring a tsunami wave of love and goodness in our world. Especially in this part of the world where peace reigns, we have a responsibility to hold in prayer mothers everywhere, especially those who live under threat, every day all year long.
If you need help with praying, I offer you the following:
Let us Pray:
Loving God, we know you love us all. Children are your precious gift and responsibility. Mothers are the first and often the main caregivers and teachers for our children. And so we hold all mothers every-where, regardless of their circumstances, in our hearts. We ask for your help so that they may be able to:
- Give thanks for their children, one and all. May they know, cherish, and love this new life in their care.
- May they find safety from fear and violence at home and in war.
- Grant them adequate food and safe shelter.
- Help each of them to focus on their love for each child rather than resentment and anger, fear and vengeance.
- Whether or not they have faith, help them recognize that you are with them, loving God. They are not alone.
- May mothers everywhere experience your goodness amidst the chaos in this world.
MAY IT BE SO FOR ALL MOTHER’S EVERYWHERE.
Thank you God. AMEN.