As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.–Isaiah 66:13
Today, we continue our Lenten Friday practice of doing something to deepen our connections or widen our welcome. Our special offering for April is an offering of items for gift bags to be given out at A Place to Turn Food Pantry the week before Mothers’ Day. We’d love to have cards to accompany each gift.
When Fran Bogle spoke with a staff member at A Place to Turn, they had some helpful suggestions. Mothers’ Day can be a painful day–for mothers who are struggling to feed their families, and also for folks who have lost a child or a mother, for folks who would have liked to become parents and for whatever reason have not been able to.
A Place to Turn has suggested that we not identify our bags as specifically for mothers; instead they can be gift bags to honor the beauty and dignity of each individual who comes. The bags will have things like hand lotions, face cream, lip gloss, massage oil. The cards might have simple statements like:
- You are worth it. Care for yourself.
- You are loved.
- Value the gifts you bring to our world.
Be creative! Let it be simple! This week I will remember to put a basket out to collect the cards.
God of beauty, may we care for ourselves and each other. Amen.