This is the weekend we celebrate Motherhood, a special role given by the grace of God.  Motherhood taps into all that we exercise in yoga – the mind, the body and the soul.  The more we yoke those elements to Christ in our daily lives, the richer the relationship between a mother and child.  Come to your practice with the intentions to nourish your mind, body and soul so that, as mother and/or child, you can love each through the power of God’s love.

Opening Meditation Prayer:  Lord, on this special day set aside to honor Mothers, thank you for the blessing of a Mother’s love and wisdom. We are thankful you sent your Son Jesus to serve as a model for how to love our children, how to inspire them to seek your will and glorify you in all they do.  We ask that you give us patience to deal with the difficulties of our job and, most of all, we ask that you guide our paths to help our children fulfill your purpose. We ask this in your name, Amen.

Scripture and Meditations for Your Practice:

Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage/gift from the Lord.”

  • Let’s be grateful for the blessing of God’s gift – a child.  May we always remember they are His children, given to us to love, to teach, and nurture to seek God’s purpose for their lives. 

1 John 4:19 “Real love always points us back to the one who first loved us.”

  • It’s through our children we learn God’s unconditional love.  When we love our children like Jesus: we seek and find their goodness, we want what is best for them, we forgive their faults, we discipline to correct their path; and we give them what they need, not what they deserve.

Hebrews 12:6 “God disciplines the ones he loves”. V11 – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time.  Later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  V13 “Discipline makes level paths for your feet”

  • God disciplines his children so they know right from wrong; to correct their path; to strengthen their character and grow their wisdom; to guide them to fulfill their unique purpose in life.

Deuteronomy 6:7:  “Put God’s commandments on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.” 

  • Talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning.

1 Corinthians 13:4, 7-8: “Love is Patient, love is kind…it always protects, always trusts, always hopes….love never fails.”

  • Patience isn’t just a virtue.  It’s at the heart of what real love is all about.
  • Real kindness isn’t a manipulative effort to get what you want.  It’s giving something without the hope of any reward.  
  • Our love is meant to echo Christ’s love.
  • Love not only on the good days, but the bad ones. Unfailing love, loves through all things – triumph and failure; anger and sorrow; health and sickness.

Ecclesiastes 8:15:  Solomon said “I recommend having fun…that you will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives you.”

  • Great families play together.  Home is not just for work – God commends us to have fun.  

Hebrews 10:24 “Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.”

Proverbs 31:25-27 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is her tongue.”

  • Let’s be inspired by these words to lead our homes, our families and lives with love, kindness and selfless service.

Ephesians 5:25,33 “Husbands love your wives…wives respect your husbands.”

  • The Bible gives full guidance how to have a full and happy marriage because no other relationship on earth reflects our union with Christ like a marriage.
  • We give our children the best lesson on how to love when Christ is at the center of our marriage. 
  • Whether you are married, divorced, or never married, let your goal be to put Christ in the center of your relationships. 

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because loves covers a multitude of sins.”

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Do everything in love”

  • God does not expect us to be perfect parents.
  • In the end our children will remember how much we loved them
  • Loving others makes us more like God, because God is love.
  • Unconditional love empowers our children to understand and receive God’s love, and seek with confidence to become exactly who God designed them to be.

Closing Prayer:  Thank you for the blessing of being a Mother and guiding our steps in this important role.  We know we can’t do this job on our own.  We need your strength, your wisdom, your grace and mercy.  When we spend time with you daily, your words inspire us, they give us wisdom.  We are grateful for the promise of your forgiveness when we fall short.  In this world of brokenness, pain, evil and sin, we ask for the blessing of your armor to protect our loved ones.  Help us to remember to not only love with our words, but to love with action and truth. May we be mindful to give thanks in all circumstances as you perfect us with your grace.  Amen

*** Shared with permission from CYA Trainer & Contributing writer, Carri Coleman Baker