It’s Sunday, May 10, 2020, and that means it is Mother’s Day. Certainly, COVID-19 is impacting traditional Mother’s Day celebrations all around the world. I know when I worked in the restaurant industry, Mother’s Day meant that we were super busy and overwhelmed with customers treating mom for a special meal and memorable moment. This year, due to COVID-19, taking mom out to lunch or dinner is probably off the table in many places.
The observance of Mother’s Day, as we know it today, began back in 1908 when a woman named Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Anna Jarvis had her entire church congregation don white carnations during the service in honor of her mother, Ann. A peace activist, Ann Jarvis served on the frontlines of the American Civil War, caring for wounded soldiers on both sides of the fight. Her daughter, Anna hoped to honor the person who had done more for her than any other person in the world as well as continue the work her mother had begun.
By 1911, all U.S. States observed Mother’s Day.
Interestingly enough, Anna Jarvis grew disenchanted with the holiday she had been instrumental in initiating due to what she perceived as the over-commercialization of what she had intended to be a simpler, more personal means of people honoring their mothers. Anna even managed to get arrested for disturbing the peace during a protest against the commercialization surrounding Mother’s Day celebrations at a candy makers convention in 1923.
As a wise friend of mine once said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Mother’s Day Prayers
As a result of its religious origins and traditions, prayers for Mother’s Day developed as a natural way for people to honor their mom each year. Even non-religious families are known to honor their moms through a special Mother’s Day prayer. Below are a couple of examples of prayer I found celebrating moms everywhere.
A Mothers Day Prayer
May the blessing of the Divine
Be an especially bright benediction
Upon mothers everywhere
On your blessed day -On Mother’s Day!
A blessing and prayer tribute to all mothers (by Susan Kramer)
Blessed be all mothers
Who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving
Remain with us to guide.
Your inspiration in us
Made us strive in every way
Especially to remember
Helping others makes our day.
Mothers, this little tribute
Flows directly from my heart
You are so loved and cherished
Invaluable, one and all, you are.
My Mother’s Day Prayer
As a way of honoring all of our mothers around the world, I wanted to share this prayer written for my Mom.
Heavenly Father, I give you thanks for my Mom. I am grateful for the gift of life You gave me through her, as she carried me from conception to birth, and brought me life. Thank you, Mom, for showing me how to walk and teaching me how to read. I am grateful for you and the unconditional love you showed me through the ups and downs and all the hills and valleys in between. I appreciate that you are my lifelong cheerleader, always celebrating my successes and helping me through my failures. Thank You, O Lord, for her creativity and the artistic gifts You have granted her. God, please continue to bless Mom with good health and the blessings her friends bring her each and every day. Encourage her when she gets down, provide her strength in times of difficulty, and help her keep her heart and her thoughts centered firmly on You. Give her abundant grace and unending mercies to live each day as a shining beacon of love and hope to all she encounters. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- How are you observing Mother’s Day today?
- Did you send your mom a card or a flower bouquet in place of being able to celebrate her in person?
- What impact is COVID-19 having on your ability to celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day?
- Is there an interesting story about your mom that you need to share with your family members?
I am humbly grateful for the time you invested in reading my blog.
I love engaging with my readers through the comments that they leave, so please be sure to leave a comment, share your thoughts, or give me a shout.
God bless.
The Devotional Guy™
ABOUT: The Devotional Guy™ is a writing ministry of Rainer Bantau, a seasoned gospel preacher, church musician, and chaplain ministering to individuals in their workplaces, to the homeless, and wherever he meets them. He shares helps, hope, and insights on his blog, The Devotional Guy™.
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Rainer started blogging in 2008 with his seminal blog titled “Joshua’s Hope.” Since 2014, he has blogged as The Devotional Guy™.
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I believe that to experience life the way God intended, you and I must receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God has made this gift available to all who ask.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Will you personally receive the gift of eternal life so that you can experience the total forgiveness from your sins that come through believing in the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
Source(s):
Ashwin, Angela (2002) The Book of a Thousand Prayers. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Batchelor, Mary. (1995). Poetry for the Soul. Moorings. Nashville, Tennessee
The Minister’s Bible (2007). Hendrickson Bible Publishing. Peabody, Massachusetts.
The Devotional Guy™ 
That’s a lovely tribute
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Thank you Sheree.
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