by Ashley-Anne Masters
For those who got pregnant right away and those who have been trying for years…
For those who entrust their babies to the care of another family…
For those who cannot wait to welcome a baby into their home and those who are terrified they are not fit to be parents…
For those whose child will get a soccer scholarship and those whose child will never run…
For those who proudly pose for pregnant photos and those who shamefully hide their bellies…
For those who are proud to be fathers and those who hope the DNA tests are incorrect…
For those who pay child support and those who need child support…
For those who fight with teenage daughters and those whose daughters have run away…
For those who cannot pay for college and those who cannot pay for medical care…
For those who home school and those who fear their children won’t make it home from school…
For those who think their son is the best surprise of their life…
For those whose children are in prison and those whose children want to be corrections officers…
For those whose baby doesn’t live outside of the womb and those whose wombs are empty…
For those taking hormones and those who feel exhausted from hormone changes…
For those grieving what will never be and those amazed by what life has become…
For those who are single parents and those who are now step parents…
For those who have an empty nest and for those whose nest was never full…
For the couple who is closer than ever and the couple getting divorced…
For all of your children of all ages, hold them close and give them life…Amen.
This prayer originally appeared on the Young Clergywomen project website, April 17, 2012. Written by the Rev. Ashley-Anne Masters. Re-printed with permission.
Ashley-Anne Masters is a pastor, chaplain, author and theologian in Chicago, IL. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and received her master of divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. She is co-author of “Bless Her Heart: Life as a Young Clergy Woman”, which is the first book from The Young Clergy Women Project Series through Chalice Press. Currently, Ashley-Anne serves as a PRN chaplain at Children’s Memorial Hospital and is passionate about providing education and support to families during their hospital stay. She also serves as an event planner for various Presbyterian Church (USA) events and has much experience in youth and young adult ministry.
Photo by arjun karkhanis. Used with permission.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Each Mother’s Day afternoon we have a healing service for “Women with Empty Arms”. It is for all women who have lost a child, suffered from infertility, miscarriage, abortion, or have given up children for adoption. We remember the loss and pain, honor the children and affirm that God has been present in the journey and will continue to be faithful. It would not have occurred to me until a friend told me through tears that she never goes to church on Mother’s Day.
Thanks Jennifer and Rev. Doris Sparks for your comments.
That is a wonderful that your church offers that healing service.
I would love our church to do a service like this, I recently had a miscarriage and feel it is so important not to forget those that struggle with loss and infertility. Thank you, you touched my heart!