Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
The lyrics to this great hymn seem so appropriate to sing on Mother’s Day Sunday. Yes, I know that Mother’s Day is a Hallmark holiday that does not have religious significance, and I understand that the hymn is adoration for God, but the merciful, loving hand of providence is such a descriptive metaphor for motherhood. For the vast majority of us, mother’s is the kind, loving, nurturing hand that gave us the greatest comfort and joy.
In our current time of coping with the coronavirus, we need to celebrate the ways we have been nurtured and cared for. Each morning, we should reflect on the mercies – new and old – that strengthen and encourage us. As motherlove has been our foundation and earliest development, may we take the many blessings we have received to be always ready to share them with others.
Father God, Mother God, Child God who is our beloved sibling, let us celebrate our place in the human family and honor those female family members and role models who have laid the foundation for who we are today. Fill us with the gentleness, lovingkindness, compassion, and mercy that helps us through the most difficult days. We ask this humbly in Jesus’ name. Amen
Author
Hee-Soo Jung
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has served as resident bishop of the Wisconsin Annual Conference since September of 2012. Prior to leading the Wisconsin Conference UMC, Bishop Jung served eight years as bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference (Chicago area).