I feel so powerless when my kids are away from me–especially when they are at school. I worry about their safety (especially in the crazy world we live in). I worry about their choices, their friends, their feelings. I worry about if they are showing respect and if they are being respected. I worry about them being brave to stand up for themselves and being even more brave to stand up for someone else. I worry that they will focus too much on their appearance or “being cool” and forget that what matters most is what’s in their hearts even though I tell them this 100 times a day. I worry that they will forget that they have the Creator of the universe living in their hearts and that through Him they have a very special purpose in this world that no one can take away from them. I worry that words, actions, and attitudes of hate, intolerance, and entitlement will leak into their words, actions and attitudes. I worry that I haven’t done enough. Will they remember about showing kindness and love to everyone no matter what they look like? Will they remember what we’ve taught them, what we’ve practiced, what we’ve encouraged in our home? Will they take God’s light into this world or will they allow this world to extinguish their light?
Have I done enough?
The worry cycle spins in my mind–round and round like clothes in a dryer, and I feel so dizzy and disoriented trying to sort it all out. The more I worry…the faster and more blurry everything gets. AAAAAAAHHHHH!
The bible tells us to worry about nothing and pray and praise God about everything, but that’s sure hard! But at some point, we have stop the worry cycle–literally turn it off or better yet, just unplug it, and give the entire load to Him. He will help us sort it, fold it, and put away in His Mighty, Loving Hands.
Breathe in. Breathe out. And pray.
Lord, bless my child as he goes into the world each day. Be
near him and help him to feel Your presence. Help him to be
brave and strong and courageous. Help him to feel confident
as he learns new things. Protect him, God, against
discouragement, frustration, and negativity. Guide him in all
he says and does. Give him a very strong conscience to help
him make the right choices, and give him an assertive voice to
share his opinions and know that they matter. Help him to
stand up for what is right even when no one else does. Put
positive friends in his path, but also allow him to show love to
those who need You in their lives. Give him a heart to include
others and encourage them, and show him ways to love, to be
helpful, and to be kind. Guard his heart and his mind against
the bad things that are in this world and show him how to use
the gifts that You have given him to be all that You created
him to be. Protect him each and every day. Be with him
wherever he goes. I know that You love my son even more than
I do. God, I give my son to you. I trust him in Your loving,
protective care. In Jesus’ name…Amen!
