Lord, You know how much I love my children

and how I long for my words and actions

to show it, especially when

I do not like what they are doing.

Give me joy in the everyday tasks

that are an essential part of mothering.

Help me to have Your peace

when the direction my children seem

to be heading in causes me anxiety and grief.

Teach me patience

when they don’t pick up their dirty socks,

and when they track mud all over

my clean floors.

Help me to be kind when I need to discipline them

for being naughty,

or I need to stand my ground on a heated issue.

Fill me with Your goodness

that I might be a worthy example for them to follow.

Enable me to be faithful to You

and to them by properly ordering my priorities.

Sensitize me to be gentle

when they are hurting and they come to me

for comfort and reassurance.

And finally, Lord, help me to be self-controlled—

to never, in a moment of frustration or anger,

do or say anything

that would cause my children to doubt

my deep love for them.