Prayer for Bereaved Mother’s Day – May 2

Our Lord,

We are thankful for the blessings of children in our time, though we have not always appreciated this gift.  And we confess we have not always acknowledged bereaved mothers.

We are thankful that there is now a place in our calendar that acknowledges women who have suffered loss through infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or the loss of a child of any age.

Especially for mothers who have not been blessed with a child, at this time at least, Father, we ask that Your peace, hope and comfort would be richly felt by them in a real way for their healing and wholeness.

For mothers who have been graced with a child subsequent to loss, we praise You, our Father, for Your provision in their lives, whilst acknowledging the losses they have suffered are not diminished in any way.  That children lost are always preciously grieved for the rest of one’s life.

We are thankful that every loss is equally significant, as is every life, and for a loss to be grieved is for a loss to be honoured, each loss sacred and eternal.

For mothers without a living child, we ask, our Father, that You make for them a place of honour for what they have suffered.  We ask, where possible, Father, to compensate them somehow by Your compassion that they could experience Your compassion such that they could give Your compassion to others, when and as they feel strong enough.  Make them esteemed ministers of eternal compassion if that is their wish for Your sake.

Finally, Father, we ask that You would help us all accept just a bit more what cannot be changed, the mysteries of life that seem so cruel.  Help us to know that You feel ever more distraught than we could ever feel because of our losses.  Help us to trust You.

* * *

Many women cannot identify with those who dearly enjoy Mother’s Day.  Their own losses, inability to conceive, and fractured relationships with their own mothers or children are but a few reasons.

On May 2nd, one week before Mother’s Day, there is a very special annual International Bereaved Mother’s Day.  This is a prayer for those women, and for other women who struggle with Mother’s Day; those who struggle with Mother’s Day for any reason—it’s a day when your pain is acknowledged and recognised.

For those who love Mother’s Day, like me, May 2nd is a good opportunity to take a moment to think of and pray for those for which the concept of Mother’s Day causes pain because of all varieties of loss.

International Bereaved Father’s Day likewise occurs the week before Father’s Day and is the last Sunday in August.