A Parent's Prayer

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Good morning friends,

Our very own Jenifer from Sweet Blessings had a prayer on her blog a few weeks ago. I don't remember where she got it or I'd give credit but I wanted to share it with you. It has touched me so much, I have it printed and in my Bible and God reminds me of it all the time. Being a parent is hard. Whether you have both parents in the home or not, parenthood is rough. I hope this prayer blesses you as much as it has me.

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 curteous 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 stea.

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 tounge.

My I be ever mindful that my children are children

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

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

and to make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grand 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

I long to be this kind of parent. I'm so NOT there yet, so I just keep praying.