We honour the love of those who came before us

It didn’t start with you 

this love

Though we know it feels like you are the very first to feel it

It has been felt before.

This love between two hearts freely given exists with another love

from a grandmother to a child 

a child not birthed, but still somehow their own.

We honour the mothers’ mothers  

Those with us today

Those who have gone before

Your grandmothers

And mine

Women like 

beautiful in presence, (names of grandmothers) selfless in love, and steady in care, 

Women of consequence, wisened by years, formed by the wonder of loving others into life:

(And now a blessing)

We ask the God who nurtures to bless (Name and Name) on this day.

Give them love strong enough to welcome change, 

Gentle enough to cherish small joys, 

Patient enough to bear stress, 

Kind enough to forgive

Open enough to grow, each day, each year, each decade.

May they be held in love and accompanied by grace, 

that they may become more fully themselves and more wholly one — a sign of hope to all who witness their life together.

We ask this in the name of the creator of all who is love.

Amen