Pentecost and Mother's Day!

To all the blogger and non-blogger moms out there, this is your day, with special recognition to moms who had enough love in them to adopt and raise a child that was not biologically theirs.

I love you, Mom. I love your aliveness,
your joy in living, your understanding,
your giving. And what I love best of all
is that you love me.
God of all Mothers,
thank you for my mom!

- by Gaynell Bordes Cronin

And it's also Pentecost!! How appropriate that Mother's Day and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles be celebrated on the same day. In both cases we celebrate the filial gifts lovingly bestowed upon us by God.

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen