I was browsing through the hymn book, looking for a hymn to sing on Mothering Sunday - not that one day is any more important than another, but we do like to respect our mothers - when I came upon what I considered a very masculine hymn. It was 'For the might of thy arm we bless Thee, O God, our fathers' God'. No, definitely not a hymn for Mothering Sunday. It gave a picture of a pilgrim people being shepherded along the journey of life. The company were bound together by Christ's love. They had faith in truth and freedom. They walked in the peace of the gospel. They had a beacon of hope, and a legacy from those who had travelled the way before, a legacy of courage and Christian obedience. The God of their fathers protected them, and for the might of his arm they blessed Him.

One could imagine the hymn being written by someone who knew about the dangers of being Christ's follower. Perhaps, a pastor in the nonconformist tradition, who was thinking back to those who had travelled this difficult road before him, maybe persecuted by those in authority. They lived in a hard world, needing God's strength to keep them safe in the struggle to remain a believer, just as men of faith had done for thousands of years. It was an inspiring hymn, but not for Mother's Day. Even the name of the tune to wich it was set, 'Mountain Christians', seemed to speak of effort and energy. Not, of course, that there are not women who are brave, energetic leaders. I suppose I was really looking for something more 'feminine'?

I discovered that the writer, Charles Sylvester Horne, had lived at the end of the nineteenth century. His father was a congregational minister, and he too became a minister. Brought up in Shropshire, he gained fame as a minister in London, and became a Member of Parliament. Of his seven children, the youngest son became a humorous broadcaster!

But this was not finding a suitable hymn for Mothers' Day. Mind you, this hymn had a good tune, and why should the men have all the good tunes? Why not set some new words to it which would reflect the maternal side of life? What follows is the result of that thought.

    For the strength of your love we bless you,
            that is ours through good or ill.
    You have kept us ever faithful,
             with a love that holds us still.
    In every generation
            you help us to obey.
    For the strength of your love we bless you
            our mothers' God today.
    From mother on to daughter
            your faithful love is shown;
    In following generations
            we make your love our own.
    O keep the faith fire burning
            to cheer us on your way.
    For the strength of your love we bless you
            our mothers' God today.

    Through pain and disappointments,
            through joy and family love,
    Through birth and life and dying
            you call us on, above.
    We trust our homes to you, Lord
            be with us as we pray;
    For the strength of your love we bless you
            our mothers' God today.