Praying for my kids is something I passionately believe in and often forget to do on a consistent basis.  I pray for patience  with them (six snow days later, that’s almost become a mantra) and I pray for grace to love them well, but I don’t always pray for them.

I don’t know why.  Perhaps it’s because to do so would require me to slow down and really get still.  I’m not good at that.  I hate sitting still.  Unless I’m on a beach.

Maybe that’s what we need!  We need to move to the beach.  My kids would be covered in prayer then.  And I’d be tan…

Wait.  That’s not right.  Scratch that.

The point is, I’m not good at sitting down and really pleading on behalf of my children.  I have great days followed by a plateau of mediocrity and on and on the cycle goes.  But the desire of my heart remains unchanged.  I long to see my kids grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.  I long to see them grow beyond a head knowledge of who Christ is and to develop a heart knowledge of Him.

I long to not screw them up.

I think my most consistent prayer for my kids is my pleading with the Lord to fill in the gaps where I am lacking as a parent.  On the days when I’m impatient, crabby, tired or just not all there like they need me to be, I pray that the Lord steps in and makes whole any damage I may have unintentionally caused.

This is not an excuse for me to be lackadaisical in my parenting. 

Lackadaisical…that’s a great word, isn’t it?

I wake up every morning desiring to be the mother my kids need me to be.  I wake up every morning with a prayer on my heart to love my kids in a way that honors God and shows them they are blessed, cherished and loved.  And, in the moments that I fail, I ask the God fill in the gaps where I am lacking.

And then I rest in the assurance and knowledge that He loves my kids more than I could ever possibly hope to.

How do you pray for your kids?  Do you have specific verses that you pour over them?  Do you have a specific place or way that you pray for your kids?  If you feel comfortable sharing, I would love to hear how you are praying over your children in an attempt to encourage and spur one another on.

Happy Tuesday!