by Brian G. Daigle

O Lord, in giving us life we have become your children. In giving us children you have given us life as fathers. Make us men who carry both responsibilities with joy and gratitude. Provide for us that we would provide for others. Speak to us by your Word and Spirit that we would know what to speak to others. And forgive us so that we would be able to forgive others. Keep us from pride, anger, laziness, and grumbling. Cause us to abound in the strength of sacrificial love. For those fathers who have passed, bring them into your eternal glory, where we anticipate joyful reunion. For those fathers far from you, set their minds on things above, that we with all your saints would find our greatest delight in your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

by Brian G. Daigle

O Lord, we cannot know maternal love until we see it from above, an extension of you in constancy and warmth. Our mothers are our first homes, in womb, in swaddle, and in our daily bread. Make our mothers women who carry these responsibilities with zeal and courage. Sustain them that they would help in sustaining others. Build them by your Word and Spirit that they would build others in the same. And cover them in patient grace so that they would cover the world with the same. Keep them from anxiety, fear, frustration, and gossip. Cause them to abound in the beauty of a fervent faith. For those mothers who have passed, bring them into your eternal glory, where we anticipate joyful reunion. For those mothers far from you, set their minds on things above, that we with all your saints would find our greatest delight in your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.