Mothers are a wonderful gift! And we honour them especially today. We give thanks for those who are pregnant with their first child, right through to those who have lived many long years of devotion as a mother. Whether we are with our mothers today or not. We give thanks for the many ways our mums care for us and lay down their lives to nurture, love and protect us.
Our Amazing Mums!
We celebrate the many ways that our mothers show their love – certainly, many mums of younger children have worked particularly hard during lockdown to care for, as well as educate their children! Whether working mums, stay-at-home mums or single mums, the commitment and sacrifices that our mothers make is a reminder to us of the brilliance of God’s plan to create mothers! Each mum has such a unique mix of gifts and talents and yet, there is no manual or guidebook about how mothering should be done! Yet, God entrusts his most precious little ones into the care of mothers, which they do with amazing patience, perseverance and devotion….
Thank you, mum!
What are we most thankful for in our mums?
Let’s take some time today to be specific in naming one thing that we give thanks for.
A Mother's Pain
Let us never forget those for whom the pathway to motherhood has been painful. We remember especially those in our parish who have lost children to miscarriage or stillbirth and those who have dearly desired to be mothers, but have had to bear the cross of infertility. Some mothers have lost their own children to illness or in tragic circumstances. Some are step-mothers who may have struggled finding where they fit in. Many women showing their mothering through their service to children and young people in the community. Despite difficulties, they show such graciousness, in the way they nurture and care so generously.
For some, any pain they have suffered is still very raw and we should never forget to acknowledge the struggles that many go through in the journey of motherhood and accompany those for whom this day is especially difficult. So, as well as celebrating your own mother today, maybe you can make a special effort to reach out to a person who will be struggling this Mothering Sunday too.
There are many biblical mothers who can encourage all mums.
May our mothers be inspired by them in their individual circumstances.
Missing mum
Some of us are missing our mothers, especially if they live far away and we have been unable to see them in these past months. Many are in care homes and have been cut off from meaningful contact with their family. Others, still, have had to say goodbye to their mums – whether recently or in the years gone by and are faced with grieving this mother’s day. Our mums in heaven will always be missed, for a mum-shaped hole remains!
And let us not forget those among us for whom our relationship with our mum is strained or where we have lost contact with a mum. There is so often a deep desire there to rekindle a broken relationship, but it is not always easy, when there can often be great feelings of hurt.
Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
A Moment of Prayer
So, let us entrust our mothers to the Lord, asking for his strength and grace. We ask for healing where there is hurt and his peace where there is weariness – that all our mums would know that God delights in them!
Lord, we give thanks for our mothers.
We thank you for their love and commitment to us and for all the sacrifices they make.
Bless them with peace and joy today!
May you richly bless each of our mothers – give them everything they need and be their source of spiritual and physical strength.
Give them a reverence of you, Lord, knowing that they are just stewards of your children. May they rest in you, trusting in your Holy Spirit to act in their hearts.
As we give thanks for our mothers, may our hearts overflow with gratitude to you, who formed and knitted each one of us in a mother’s womb
AMEN
St Gerard Majella, pray for us
Mother Mary, model of care and compassion, pray for us
