October 24th, 2008
Lord, help me to be that type of parent you have me to be.
Give me the patience and wisdom so that I can be an honorable guide that will lay a strong foundation for my teenagers.
I realize that I cannot control or mold them, but I can try to offer my adolescent children the building blocks for a righteous character.
Heavenly Creator, thank you for continuing to give me the strength and the courage to face each morning as a new day,
forgetting the irritations of the day before,
and treating each time the sun rises as a fresh start.
And most important, thank you for reminding me that I was once a teenager too,
and just as I made some mistakes and had to find my own way,
so too does my soon-to-be adult children need to carve their own path.
Thank you for helping me to whisper when I really feel like screaming,
thank you for giving me the grace to hug them when I feel like striking.
Always help me see the good in my child,
and to frequently tell my teens that he or she is loved,
even when they may do or say something that may displease me.
Give me the wisdom and understanding
to know when a problem is too large for me to handle within my own home,
and to not fear reaching out for your help when I need it.
And before I forget, please help my teens to become leaders,
and not followers of fools.
And, if the time should come that my child makes a detour,
give me that compassion and understanding that is needed,
for I am sometimes foolish myself.
But above all God, as much as I wish to hold tight to my children,
never let me forget that You are holding on to me even tighter.
there IS a light at the end of the tunnel and
even puberty shall one day pass. This I ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
Amen