Prayers for Mother's Day

9 Blessings for All Mothers

Mothers nurture and love their children from infancy, providing them with wisdom and guidance toward happiness. Whether you're a mother or an expectant mother, celebrate motherhood with these nine prayers and blessings. Find comfort in words that will encourage a mother through birth, difficult pregnancies, nursing, welcoming children into the world, and the struggles of day-to-day child rearing.

Read these prayers and blessings for mothers who need strength, hope, and inspiration.

Prayers featured here are reprinted from "Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies & Blessings" - Edited with Introductions by Lynn L. Caruso. (c) 2008. Permission granted by SkyLight Paths Publishing, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091 www.skylightpaths.com

Dear God, Bless All Mothers...

In this intense nine months, when mothers-to-be are realizing that their life is about to change forever, bless them God, because they feel alternately elated and alarmed. Help each mother-in-waiting to understand that she has been carefully chosen, by both you and by her baby, to guide it through its early years on planet Earth. Let her know that she will never be alone in the process. Help her to remember that her baby is your own perfect creation, just as she, herself, is your own perfect creation. Thank you God, for making each of your creations uniquely perfect in its own way. Amen.
- Lauren McLaughlin

Prayer by Lauren McLaughlin is from "Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies & Blessings" - Edited with Introductions by Lynn L. Caruso. (c) 2008. Permission granted by SkyLight Paths Publishing, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091 www.skylightpaths.com

Tonglen* for Mothers

I breathe in the daily frustrations
small as they are, big as they can seem
I breath out patience for us all.

I breathe in the loneliness
of days spent mothering on our own
I breathe out connection
community, compassion.

I breathe in the brokenness
not being enough in the world
I breathe out wholeness
leaving ideals behind, truth.

I breathe in the boredom
diapers, cooking, same every day
I breathe out simple pleasure
swings, finger painting, rocks.

I breathe in the exhaustion,
the worry, the fear
I breathe out the calm energy, excitement.

I breathe in the rage
at your plight, your place, your life
I breathe out peace
contentment, courage.
- DeLona Campos-Davis

* Tonglen is a traditional Buddhist practice of compassion. In order to have compassion for ourselves, we cultivate it for others. We take in the difficult parts of mothering, for ourselves and for all mothers and send out compassion and love.

Prayer by DeLona Campos-Davis is from "Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies & Blessings" - Edited with Introductions by Lynn L. Caruso. (c) 2008. Permission granted by SkyLight Paths Publishing, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091 www.skylightpaths.com

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