As we are approaching our annual celebration of Mothers’ Day, we reflect on the influence of mothers. Loving mothers create a legacy in the lives of their children that they carry with them throughout their entire lives. I was looking over some recipes to choose a favourite recipe that had come to me from my Mom. I settled on her recipe for ginger cookies. She made countless dozens of these ginger cookies and when she shared them, it was an expression of her love for us. The description of love that we find in the Scripture from I Corinthians 13 speaks about aspects of love that are meant to be obvious in all of us. Consider these words: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8a) When I read this challenge to have our lives define love in this way, I am convinced that only God can grow this kind of love in us and in our families. I am moved this week to devote time to praying for families. As we well know, every family has different dynamics and circumstances. Every family needs the transforming power of God’s love. We can commit ourselves to pray faithfully for families during our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER tomorrow May 4th at 1 pm.
Thanking God that He has placed us in families and given us the chance for so many lessons about love, Pastor Lola
Our God who has filled our lives with love and grace, we thank you for the gift of family. We know that there will be those this Mothers’ Day who will be missing their Moms. We know there are Moms who are touched by the loss of children and grandchildren. Please surround with Your divine love those who have tender memories and aches in their hearts. At this time, our thoughts turn to families in war torn places like The Ukraine. We pray for families who are living in fear. We pray for mothers who are desperately trying to keep their children safe. Our prayers cover families who are being separated and living with not knowing if or when they will see each other again. We thank You God for people who have provided places of refuge for families in need. Thank You for those who have welcomed those fleeing into their own homes and have extended hospitality and love. Please inspire us with practical ways that express love and show care for those near us who do not have the loving support of family. We continue to bring to you all the challenges around the spread of COVID. You know our God how this has created stress and disagreements among some family members. Our ongoing prayers are for healing from COVID and for healing of relationships in families and communities that will then result in choosing Your way of love. We pray for our neighbours and for your blessing over their families. Where there are ways that we can support and encourage our neighbours and their families, please show us how. We gather now our prayers for our own families. You know every detail God. You have heard our prayers over and over because these prayers for our families are constantly on our minds and in our hearts. Please give us peace as we trust every detail of our families to You. We pray for families dealing with illness. We recognize how exhausting and consuming this can become. Please bring strength where it is needed. We pray for the nurturing kind of love that guides mothers to equip those who are extending care for those in their family who need that care. Our prayer is also for resolute hope for those who are bent down with the weight of their concern for family members who are sick. Thank You God for memories of our Moms that are good and uplifting. Thank You for others in our lives who have expressed mother love if our own Moms were unable. As our prayers have centered on Your abiding Presence revealing love and the longing for love in our families, please continue to show us how our love can become more like Yours. We want to be characterized by love that is patient and kind and we want Your love to draw our families closer to You. Please bless mothers and all those who mother today and everyday. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.