A PRAYER FOR MOTHERS

All-loving God,
we give you thanks and praise
for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers,
who give life and count toes and tend to our every need;
May they be blessed with patience and tenderness
to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers
who have nurture and cared for us;
May they continue to guide
in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated
from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict;
May they feel the loving embrace of
our God who wipes every tear away.

We pray for women who are not mothers
but still love and shape us
with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers,
and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us
but who live forever in our memory
and nourish us with their love.

Amen.