Mother’s Day is the third most popular Sunday for church attendance only behind Christmas and Easter.

 

Why?

 

One reason may be that our connection with God and the way we express our love to God has been taught to us and modeled for us by our mothers or someone who has been like a mother for us.

 

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”  – Tenneva Jordan

 

Another reason may be that Mother’s Day offers the realization that we cannot raise our children alone. We need help from family, friends and especially from God.

 

“You don’t understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents always wave back.” – William Tammeus

 

So on Mother’s Day, we give thanks and offer prayers…

 

For mothers who are raising their children now and shaping our future generations.

 

For the mothers who raised us, nurtured us, loved us and helped to made us who we are today.

 

For fathers, family members, teachers and others who fill in for mothers to shape children’s lives.

 

The Bible is filled with advice, encouragement and admonitions about raising a family.

 

“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?  Don’t you see that children are God ‘s best gift?” (Parts of Psalm 127, The Message)

 

  • If God doesn’t build… a reminder of our priorities.
  • If God doesn’t guard… other means of protection will fall short.
  • Our best efforts are vain without God.
  • Take comfort in knowing that God can also provide rest from your worries.
  • Children are a precious gift from God entrusted to us.

 

“There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.” – Chinese Proverb

 

“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” – Calvin Rillin

 

Mother’s Day is also one of the most uncomfortable Sundays of the year for some.

 

We remember to pray for these and others.

 

  • Women who have never been mothers.
  • Children whose mother recently died,
  • Single parent fathers who must be mother and father.
  • Single mothers.
  • Mothers who have lost a child to death.
  • Mothers of children in prison or who are in trouble.
  • Mothers of children serving in the armed forces or in other areas of potentially dangerous service.

 

On Mother’s Day we pray for God to continually watch over and guide us.

 

From the Book of Common Prayer —

 

“Be our light in the darkness O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night.”

 

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.”

 

“Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous and all for your love’s sake.”

 

“Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.”

 

Be our light in the darkness…

 

Keep watch…

 

So that…

 

Awake we may watch with Christ.

 

Asleep we may rest in peace.

 

Amen.