Heavenly Father,
Today we honor the vocation of parenting. On a day when our Western culture celebrates mothers, we too recognize the hard work of parenting and the holiness of its nature. We also note the pain that Mother's Day can surface for some, including those who long for children, have lost a child, have lost their mothers, or are estranged in a mother-child relationship.
Family is one of God’s ordained structures to promote human flourishing, and the importance of family is clear from the first pages of Scripture to the last. Being a part of the family of God allows us all to experience multiple roles, as children of God our Father, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and as spiritual parents to younger believers. Please give us godly community in which to raise our children up in knowledge of and love for You.
To be able to influence and mold children, about whom Jesus said, "Let them come to me," is an honor and privilege. It can also be a great joy. Parenting -- whether as biological parents or as "spiritual" parents, allows us to reflect some of the most beautiful parts of God’s character, including more “maternal” attributes such as His love, His discipline, His kindness, His fairness, His mercy, His creativity, and His nurturing.
Yet the difficulties and complexities of parenting can overwhelm both us and the children whose lives we steward. When we are tempted by the need for perfection and performance, may our children remind us of the gifts of laughter, joy, and adventure. The conflicts are many - their tantrums and our desire for peace; their mess and our yearning for order, their focus on the present and our obsession with looking to the future, their desire for autonomy and our worship of control.
We pray for a posture in our homes, our church, and our world that welcomes children, and encourages us all toward a childlike faith and reliance on you, Father God.
Fill our homes with laughter, grace, memories, moments of collective weakness, and moments of unexpected joy. Help us point our children to You first, as we pray out loud together, repent to each other, laugh with each other, and cry with each other.
Parent us first, so that we may parent through the endless well of patience, wisdom, and peace You promise us in your Word.
For all of this we give you thanks in Jesus.
Amen.
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