A PARENT'S PRAYER
Help me, Lord, to give my children the best . . . not trappings and extras . . . but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine.Teach me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me; to encourage their goals, not mine; and please, Lord, let me laugh with them.
Let me give them a home where respect is the cornerstone, integrity the foundation, and there is enough happiness to raise the roof.
May I give them the courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of themselves and the faith to believe in God as the greatest power in their lives . . . a power much greater than themselves. Let me give them the gift of knowing the power of prayer.
See that I discipline my child without demeaning his or her spirit. See that I demand good manners without forgetting my own and let them know they have limitless love, no matter what they do.
Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately and have enough to give them small allowances . . . not for the work they do but for the pleasure they bring . . and let me be moderate in all these things, so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.
See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, That my expectations are high but not overwhelming And that my thanks and praise are thoughtful and given when they’re due.
Finally, Lord, help me teach them that excellence is work’s real reward, And not the glory it brings. But when it comes . . . and it will . . . let me revel in each honor or accomplishment, however small, without once pretending that it’s mine.
Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can dare to let them go. And may they be so blessed.
AMEN --Marguerite Kelly
