For the Matriarch
This is part of a series of prayers celebrating family. Two of the prayers center on the traditional roles of matriarch and patriarch, while others celebrate brotherhood and sisterhood, as well as assumed roles, such as a prayer “For the Family Historian.” Each of them begins with a psalm-like introduction and end with a blessing. The photo is one of my mother’s publicity shots from her career as an actress. Among her credits, she was a cast member of America’s first theater in the round, Circle Players, and was an early television star, including the show Mixed Doubles. I welcome your ideas for topics in this series of family prayers. Others include: “For the Patriarch,” “For Our Brothers,” “For Our Sisters”and “For the Family Historian.” To listen along as you read, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.
For the Matriarch
For our matriarch,
A song of strength and hope.
Guardian of generations,
Keeper of traditions,
Hand of guidance and love,
We are blessed by your wisdom and purpose,
Your work to bind us to our heritage,
Your dedication to peace in our homes
And joy in our lives.
You remind us to open our hearts to our brothers and sisters,
Fathers and mothers,
Daughters and sons.
You remind us to honor and cherish cousins of cousins of cousins,
And to live together, in harmony,
By G-d’s holy word.
G-d of motherly wisdom and grace,
Bless our family with health
And our matriarch with vision, endurance and hope.
May her devotion inspire us to live by our highest ideals,
Guided by Torah.
Bless our lives with laughter
And our days with purpose,
So that we bring radiance and splendor to our family
And to the world.
Blessed are You, G-d of our mothers,
Who provides just and righteous women
In every generation.
© 2010 Alden Solovy and http://www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.
Postscript: If you like this prayer, you may also like: “For the Patriarch,” “For Our Brothers,” “For Our Sisters”and “For the Family Historian.”
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Photo Courtesy of Adrian Solovy
Beautiful. Cousins of cousins of cousins indeed.