A Parent's Prayer

Yesterday Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen posted a beautiful prayer.  It brought me to my knees in tears.  You see, this week has been rough.  Since we came back from vacation I've had a pretty hard time getting back into the swing of things.  My kids have had an even harder time.  It has caused for some stressful days.  I have shared before that I used to be a "yeller" but for many years didn't even realize I was.  After much prayer, God helped me to stop yelling.  But there are times, like this week, that the ugly, yelling mom comes back.  When I read this prayer, I knew it was God's gentle way of reminding me that I don't have to be her.  I can be the gentle mom.  Our children are such an incredible blessing.  I pray this touches you as it has touched me.   

A Parent’s Prayer

O Heavenly Father, make me a better parent.

Teach me to understand my children,

To listen patiently to what they have to say,

And to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.

Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes

Or resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me.

May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction

Or to show my power.

Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal.

And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate

By all that I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.

And when I’m out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

May I ever be mindful that my children are children

And I should not expect of them the judgments of adults.

Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves

And to make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests

And the courage to deny them privileges

I know will do them harm.

Make me fair and just and kind and fit me, O Lord,

To be loved and respected and imitated by my children.

Amen.

Oh, how I desire to be the mom God wants me to be.  I want to be this Godly, gentle, and courageous parent.  With His hands guiding us, we all can be.  This prayer is now printed out and sitting on my dresser as a reminder.

Thank you Janelle for this great encouragement, it was God's perfect timing.  And thank You God for my four blessings from Heaven and for second chances. 

Sweet Blessings~
 


Linking with:
Thought Provoking Thursday
Adventures in the Ordinary
Grace Cafe

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