This time last year Mothers’ Union was embarking on a year of building Hope and Confidence in our communities and in ourselves and then suddenly hope and confidence were turned upside down around the world.
Now we are in a year of rebuilding hope and confidence… a bit of a u-turn.
The virus has caused Mothers’ Union Worldwide to re-evaluate everything that we do. As for most charities, the financial hit was huge. Members and friends worldwide showed their love and support of Mothers’ Union by readily giving financial assistance helping to alleviate a major part of that worry. All levels of Mothers’ Union embarked on a steep technology learning curve with great success, embracing online platforms to support members around the world.
As an example, every morning I wake up to find a message of love and caring on Whatsapp from Mothers’ Union members around the globe. It is heartwarming and encouraging.
I always think of February as the ‘Love Month’…when I taught primary, hearts and valentines would appear everywhere around the school, spreading a feeling of caring and kindness. They produced a happy sense of joy and gratitude. Yes, it was childlike, and yet, they expressed what we all want to say and hear.
Despite our circumstances, there is always love to be shared in our world. That love is generated by God, the ultimate of goodness and love. Love is not a namby-pamby thing, it is a sincere emotion that we all need to receive and to give. This was evident during the Christmas season, when we saw hearts in lights reaching out into the community spreading love and hopefulness.
Family love is essential to the growth and well being of children and is the fundamental support system for society. Love experienced in the home is projected into the greater community. Yet so many situations and circumstances interfere with the giving and receiving of love. Lynne Tembey, the previous Mothers’ Union Worldwide President wrote this wonderful prayer for ‘’Dear Lord…’’ A new collection of prayers and poems from Mothers’ Union members across the world.
The Family Prayer
Lord, It is with a heart full of gratitude that we come before you today. Thank you for the abundant generosity you bestow on each member of our family. We thank you that in joyful times we can celebrate together; we are grateful too that in difficult times in our lives, we have you and each other, to guide, support, encourage and love.
And yet Lord, as we are blessed and enriched by love, we are acutely aware that within the world, your beautiful world, there are so many who are lonely, unloved, persecuted and afraid.
We pray that we might have a heart of love and a generosity of spirit to reach out with unconditional love to the marginalized, those caught up in conflict, suffering from hunger, held captive or facing any sort of oppression or persecution.
We pray that you will enlarge our sympathy, deepen our compassion, and give us courage to reach out in love and service. Enable us we pray to have loving, caring hearts.
In your Son’s name, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
During this ‘Love Month’ there are many ways in which we can express love for our families, friends, neighbours, communities and beyond. You can probably think of a myriad of ways…such as cards, phone calls, words of encouragement, gifts of food, donations to causes like food banks and shelters, volunteering and so on. Enjoy the gift of giving and receiving, remembering the 2nd great commandment ‘’Love thy neighbour as thyself.’’
