A Prayer For A Stressful Morning - To Light Their Way

A Prayer for a Stressful Morning

We so often forget,

In our own stress and struggles,

That children, too,

Find their brains and bodies

Flooded with the pulsing

Rush of worry.

Help us embrace our children

With a sense of compassion,

Of understanding,

Of patience,

And of peace,

Just as You do with us.

In times when we

Don’t understand

And even express anger at

A son’s shout

Or a daughter’s refusal,

We acknowledge our lack.

We recognize our need

For help.

We thank You for the rush

Of a busy morning,

For that means we have

The gift of community

Woven into our very home.

With the spilled oatmeal and

A half-eaten banana,

Remind us of our abundance

Of food purchased, food transported.

We think of the cashier at the grocery store

And the field worker who picked the banana,

And we thank You for the hands that touched

What fills our cupboards,

Knowing many, too, are parents,

Waking at dawn,

Feeding children,

And doing their best.

We acknowledge the privilege

Of getting frustrated

At a child losing her left shoe

In a sea of sandals and boots,

For we don’t even know who made the

Many shoes we wear.

We don’t even know how many

Parents ache to give their children

Just a sliver of our abundance.

Thank You for the good gift

Of mounting dirty dishes,

For we have clean water

And hands to rinse them.

Thank You for the good gift

Of a pouting child,

And a sulking teenager,

For they have emotions,

And emotions tell us how we feel.

Thank You for the good gift

Of a ticking clock,

For You have given us time,

And we are living out memories together.

We marvel at the growing

Hearts and minds

And bodies and souls

We care for,

And we give this morning

Back to You.

Thank You for Your mercy

And unfailing love

In this seemingly mundane

And muddled morning.

We sense Your Spirit

Even now,

In the hive of activity,

In the exhaustion of a day

That has barely begun.

Be with us as we stay

And as we go.

You are with us in the

Backpacks and hats;

You are with us in the

Packed lunches and

Travel coffee mugs.

Give us eyes to see You

In everyone we will meet today,

And bring us home

With joy in our steps,

Marveling at Your wonder

And care for Your children.

Amen.

James 3:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Lamentations 3:22-23