Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Monday, August 30, 2010

A Parent's Prayer

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Today is our first day of school at home. I have many prayers in my heart, many goals which I know that I need Divine aid to meet, but I found this prayer which really hits the most important things I feel I need to practice. I think that if God helps me with all of these things, the rest will be a piece of cake.




"Oh God, make me a better parent. Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to understand all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask forgiveness, when I know I have done wrong.

May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produce happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me, May I cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things that they do. Give me a ready word of honest praise.

Help me to treat my children as those of their own age, but let me not exact of them the judgments and conventions of adults. Allow me not to rob them of opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose, and to make their own decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction. May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm.

Make me so fair and just, so considerate and companionable to my children that they will have genuine esteem for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children. Oh God, do give me calm and poise and self-control."

-- Garry C. Myers

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11 comments:

  1. Emma's preschool teacher used that prayer to begin the parent orientation this past Wednesday. I thought it was beautiful! = )

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  2. That is a great prayer. I hope you have a good day.
    And no "grousses" in your homeschool---that's my captcha word today!

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  3. What a WONDERFUL prayer! When we get settled into our new house, I think I will post it in a prominent location. I need this everyday!

    I hope your first day is just wonderful. Full of joy and blessings!

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  4. That is a fantastic prayer Barbara, very thought provoking - really elicits and examination of one's conscience - thank you for sharing.

    I wish you a wonderful school year!

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  5. I'm printing that one right now!

    Wow, what a beautiful prayer for all mothers!

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  6. OH, yeah, and blessings on your first day back to school!

    We are waiting til next week!

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  7. What a perfect prayer for me. We start next week.

    Many prayers for you today!
    :)

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  8. That is a beautiful prayer and one that I hope will inspire each day. Thank you for sharing it and I pray that your homeschool year is a great one!

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  9. Oh man, I needed to hear this. Happy first day of school to you, Barbara! Mine went back today as well - waiting for the bus so I can hear how it all went! :)

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  10. Today was our first day as well and I love that prayer! Thanks so much for sharing it. I'm going to copy it to Word so I can print it out on pretty paper to frame it. That way I can say it every day.
    God bless your school year and may He grant you much happiness every day.

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!