Blessed Mother Mary,

Bless me as I care for my children—born not of my body but now part of my soul.

Grant me the patience and strength to “mother” them so they may live their life in gratitude and love.

Give me opportunities to reassure my children their mother’s love is forever.

Remind me to be silent when my need for acceptance meets their need to honor cherished memories.

Provide resilience that my need for love and protection and acceptance balance their struggle to honor the past in loyalty and proceed with open hearts to the future.

Enable us to embrace a future with hope, trust, and open hearts with each step toward a new life.

Grant us the grace to celebrate joyful moments as love grows.

Alert my senses to see what is visible, to hear what is not spoken, to empathize with sadness, loss, memories, and shattered dreams and mend broken hearts.

Soothe feelings after words spoken in grief are regretted.

Remind me to pray to women who embodied attributes of motherhood.

Deepen my love for my husband, whose loss is great—that our marriage is a beacon for our family’s future.

Bless my life that is now on a path never imagined, that I will find my way through uncertainty and doubt and gain peace of mind.

Grant me joy when I embrace their mother and we share gratitude for each other.

Only then will I know all is well.