Sometimes my kids sit in forts they made together and read to each other… you know, the stuff Instagram images are made of. And other days we do fun arts and crafts, have kitchen dance parties, and go on outside adventures. But their most frequent activity of choice is bickering back and forth over dumb stuff, as I attempt to keep my cool and remind them to be peacemakers and dole out consequences… until I lose it and turn into beast-mom mode.
I love summer and am super thankful for a job that allows me to be with kids at home during the summer, but it’s not always easy or fun. Tonight was tough. Lots of nights lately have been hard. My husband has had to work lots of long hours for his side job for the past few months, and while we are extremely grateful for the work, it makes for some long days for me. I try to be a glass-half-full, look on the bright side kind of person. But parenting is equal parts exhilarating and exhausting, and I want this blog to be a space where I can be real about both the joys and challenges of motherhood.
Tonight, there were poor choices, raised voices, hard consequences, and tears all around. We ended the night in prayer, all piled up in my youngest’s bed. I journaled this prayer in a note on my phone after the girls were asleep, and because I know I’m not alone in walking the the mountains and valleys of motherhood, thought I would share it here in hopes it might encourage someone else.
A Summer Prayer for Moms:
Lord, thank you for these kids you have entrusted me with. Help me to see them like you see them and love them like you love them, whether they’re playing nicely together or fighting like cats and dogs, acting grateful or entitled, willingly doing chores or complaining they may die of boredom.
Help me, above all, to point them to you each day, and to equip and encourage them to use their unique gifts to shine your light into this dark world.
Give me the strength to be fair and consistent in growing the fruits of love, respect, and obedience in their hearts. Remind me that their behavior is a result of the free will you sovereignly chose to give them… and that you alone can soften or convict hearts. Free me of my prideful attempts to micromanage or control them.
Prompt me to pray in your Spirit at all times (Ephesians 6:18), especially for wisdom, strength, and stamina. Guide me in how to cultivate peace in our home and schedules, how to balance work and play, how to laugh more and worry less.
Grow in my kids – and in me – the fruits of your Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)… and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:12).
Thank you, Jesus, for using the tireless work of motherhood to sanctify me and point me back to my constant need for your power and grace. In Your Holy, All-sufficient Name, Amen.