Better late than never

This past Mother's Day, I really tried to make space to reflect on motherhood and the gift that it is.  Even though, it being on a Sunday, my husband was gone from 7am to 9pm, with an hour or so home for lunch. It was precious though because my three year old wished me a happy Mother's Day about twenty times throughout the day.

A friend of mine explained how to mother is an experience anyone who says yes to God can encounter.  It is the joy, the struggle, the sacrifice, the evolving of oneself . . . the realization that you cannot do it alone, the fear of failure, the love poured out and received, and so on.  How true this is for mothers, yet for those who may not be and who have the courage to simply say yes to God and all that He has for them.

I came across the following excerpt from author Lynne Hybels.  For my friends who are mothers and who are not, who are women and who are not (clearly "women" could be replaced by "men" or "people"), who feel joy, sadness, fear, rejection, frustration, hopelessness . . . this is for you.

Dear God, 

May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.

May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.

May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.

May we pray deeply and teach wisely.

May we be strong and gentle leaders.

May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.

May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.

May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.

May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.

May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.

May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.

And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.

Amen.