She Prays for Mothers this Mothers’ Day
She Prays for Mothers this Mothers’ Day Dear Sisters in Christ, As we prepare for Mother’s Day here in Australia, here is a prayer that I hope you may be encouraged by as you pray. I love praying this prayer with the Church each Mother’s Day. I look forward to it, especially since it only comes around once a year! Nevertheless, we should not let that limit us from praying it more frequently. This prayer could also be a good one to pray at a baby shower. Often, I am struck by how many of these petitions resonate with me or have stirred my spirit to pray for a particular woman I know. I often find it strange how God puts us in a community with women who experience life so differently from each other; this goes for motherhood, too. Every woman has a story of motherhood. And yet, as Sisters in Christ, we are called to live in fellowship with one another, united in Christ’s bond of peace as we encourage each other to cling in faith to our shared source of life and light, boldly trusting that He will hold us together as we travel along the road to our heavenly home. Along with commending those we love into God’s care, I think prayer helps us to prepare our spirit to find ways to love and serve others. Sometimes, we don’t find ways that will truly help a person, but we can still pray for them, and that is not nothing. And so, as I have grieved with sisters who have miscarried, I have been able to pray for Christ to tend their wounds and wrap them up in His love. I have also rejoiced with women who have been in a long battle with infertility and finally conceived, and I can tell you that those prayers of thanksgiving have been some highlights of my Christian life. I have also prayed for pregnant sisters who are exhausted; and sometimes, I have been able to help and serve them in practical ways, and other times, all I have been able to do is listen and validate their trial over the phone. Finally–and this one is a tough one–I have witnessed mums who are struggling to stay in Christ’s light and out of the darkness of depression; here I have felt at my weakest and most ill-equipped to help, but I know that my prayers for God’s mercy on them do not go unnoticed by our Lord, and that I am called as a Christian to trust in His redemption and restoration for those women. All of these experiences–and so many others–are unique to each woman. I have quite a few mothers I am praying for This Mother’s Day, many of whom are struggling with a particular burden of motherhood. Maybe you know someone too? Perhaps the Holy Spirit is moving you to prayers of thanksgiving this Mother’s Day, maybe for your mother, the mother(s) of your grandchildren, and mothers in your congregation. Either way, You can use this prayer as a start and to guide your prayers for the women you know, praying for Christ to strengthen them for the trials that their distinctively feminine vocation brings them, praying for the help of the Holy Spirit to provide the light for their path, and to grant them the love and joy that comes from our heavenly Father’s hand, which mothers rely upon to endure the demands that motherhood brings. This prayer may be familiar to you; it is prepared by the LCA Commission on Worship for use in the LCA Worship Service Orders on Mothers’ Day. May God bless you richly this Mother’s Day. Let us pray. God our Father, we pray: for new mothers, coming to terms with both the joys and demands of motherhood; for pregnant mothers, expectant and wondering, or fearful; for those mothers who are tired, stressed, ill or depressed; for those who struggle to balance the demands of work and children; for those who have to struggle with difficult decisions about whether or not to become a mother or to have another child; for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty; for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities; for those who have children they do not want; for those who raise children on their own; for those who have lost a child through death or abortion; for those who care for the children of others; for those whose children have left home; for those whose children have rejected their love; and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled. *for those who are grieving the loss of their mother. *for those who do not know their biological mother. Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good, living not for themselves, but for God and for others. Amen. *These petitions have been added to the original prayer. http://www.lca.org.au/worship/wpp/service-order/?order-type=liturgy&post-id=18627 About the Author Kimberley Pfeiffer Kimberley Pfeiffer is Lutheran writer who has not stopped reading, asking questions and thinking about what it means to live like a Lutheran ever since she joined the Lutheran church over twenty years ago. Read more…
