Prayer, day 2660

Blessed Lord Jesus,
we rise to gather in your courts
to give honor and praise to your holy name! 

Holy One, we thank You
for all who have guided us
with a mother's hand in our lives.
O God, bless all mothers: 
birth mothers, 
step-mothers, 
mothers-in-law, and 
mothers of the heart. 

Open our eyes to see your presence
in those who have adopted us,
loved us,
taught us,
and nurtured us,
drawn to us in love. 

Help us to ourselves be loving signs of grace
and acceptance in the world,
that we may spread motherly love throughout our lives. 

Bless those mothers who are gone from us,
or are far away,
as we remember them and honor them in love. 

With your arms stretched wide, Lord Christ,
envelop us in your truth,
and give us a new birth of hope and faith, we pray.
Gather to your heart, sweet Jesus,
those whose needs we lay before you.

Amen.