O Mother's Love

This is a hymn for Mother's Day.

It was originally a poem, which has been set to a tune to form a hymn.   There is a reference to it in this 1952 newspaper and this 1974 newspaper:  They both attribute it as author Unknown.

In 2011, it was included in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal, which was published by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in  Nashville, USA.  This book identifies the author as E M Gordon (d 1978) - but no other details have been found.

With meter 8.8.8.8, it is set to the tune SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER by William B. Bradbury (1861)

Downloads

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Piano arrangement of SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

PowerPoint
slides

Examples

Instrumental - orchestral and piano

Gentle piano

Lyrics

O mother's love, sweet mothers love,
The gift divine from heav'n above,
It lifts our thoughts to realms of light
And bids us see the good and right;

God knew the need of humankind,
The depths of sin our souls might find,
And so to keep us pure and fair,
We have a mother's love and pray'r.

O mother's love, the sweetest known,
The richest earthly gift we own,
For it our thanks shall clearly wing
To reach the throne of God, our King.

Our praise shall seek the Lord of pow'r
For blessing known this festal hour;
Ah, far above all gifts devine,
The love our mothers brightly shine.

O mother's love, so blest and true,
That guides and keeps our lifetime through:
Through sacrifice and service dear,
Its depth and sweetness shine more clear.

It is to us a precious gift
That lives to bless and bends to lift;
With lifted hearts we send above
Our gratitude for mother's love.

See more ...

• Hymns for Mother's Day
• Hymns about motherhood

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY O mother's love, sweet mothers love,
The gift divine from heav'n above,
It lifts our thoughts to realms of light
And bids us see the good and right;

God knew the need of humankind,
The depths of sin our souls might find,
And so to keep us pure and fair,
We have a mother's love and pray'r.

O mother's love, the sweetest known,
The richest earthly gift we own,
For it our thanks shall clearly wing
To reach the throne of God, our King.

Our praise shall seek the Lord of pow'r
For blessing known this festal hour;
Ah, far above all gifts devine,
The love our mothers brightly shine.

O mother's love, so blest and true,
That guides and keeps our lifetime through:
Through sacrifice and service dear,
Its depth and sweetness shine more clear.

It is to us a precious gift
That lives to bless and bends to lift;
With lifted hearts we send above
Our gratitude for mother's love.