MARJORIE WINGERT
  • Prayer Over Our Children
    • Subscribe
  • Meditations
  • About
    • About Marjorie
    • About Prayer Over Our Children Blog
  • Books and Music
    • Feeling the Music Book
    • Meet Mr. Caleb
    • Sing Along With Mr. Caleb CD
  • Speaking and Events
  • Media Room
  • Contact

Prayer Over Our Children


Blog Home
Follow Me:
Subscribe

Ephesians, Chapter 2

10/16/2017

0 Comments

 
​“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

A Prayer for My Daughter

Oh Lord, grant my child the gift of faith, that she might know you. Prepare her for the work for which you have called her. Consecrate her, oh God, so that your holy spirit may dwell in her and that she may be a temple, holy and pleasing unto you. ...
It was one of those weeks. 

You know, the ones where we moms run hither and yon, dragging our small ones with us everywhere we go. For two weeks, my poor sweet girl had awakened to a morning shuffle that led not to leisurely play with well-beloved toys or familiar surroundings, but to the introduction of new children and unfamiliar settings. I sat at the kitchen table, cell phone in hand.

​The planned morning event was one I looked forward to, as it allowed me some much-needed socialization with other moms and friends! Daycare was provided, and once again, my sweet girl would be thrown into the melting pot of fresh faces, loud voices, and chaos.
My friend, who was my ride, had texted the night before to let me know her daughter was sick and that she would likely not go. Even though I looked forward to talking with my old friends and making new acquaintances, I couldn’t help the thought that slipped through my mind: Oh good, we all could use a morning at home!

But then, later that evening, she wrote back to say that plans changed! Her husband offered to work from home the following day, and she would be happy to pick me up. HOWEVER, FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, she warned me of her exposure to her daughter’s fever.
My little girl was recovering from a cold, and she looked at me with big eyes, popping a piece of avocado in her mouth.

“Where are we going today?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” I hesitated.

“Please Mommy, I don’t want to go," she pleaded. "I want to stay home!”

I reached out a hand to pat her little arm, “I know, sweet pea, a morning at home would be nice.”

​Again, she voiced her opinion, “Please Mommy, please? May I stay home?”
I looked down at the little girl beside me, my heart agonizing between my daughter’s need for a day at home and my own need for socializing with other moms.

“I hear you, sweetheart, thank you for sharing your opinion.” Then I exerted my firm, no-nonsense tone,
“But Mommy will make this decision, not you.”
​
I excused her to play with paints as I sat in my chair, paralyzed with indecision. My need for socialization with other moms burned hot, yet just as palpable was my daughter’s need for a slower day at home! I, of course, did not want to expose her to any potential illnesses. “Oh God,” I audibly moaned, “help me make the right decision. I really want to go.”
The sweet girl painting with water colors in the next room heard my tortured cry.

“Dear God,” she intoned, formulating a prayer of her own and sounding like a priest invoking communion, “Help me stay home. Dear God,” she continued, raising her voice like a true Pentecost, “Let me and Mommy stay home today!”

I sat in stunned silence, listening to my daughter’s formal petition to our Heavenly Lord. But my little one wasn’t finished yet.

“Dear God,” she prayed again, with Baptist gusto, “give us this day our daily bread. Amen!”

​My shoulders shook with laughter as the levity of my situation sunk in. How could I stand against such a prayer? Didn’t I want to reinforce how God hears and answers the prayers of His children, especially the prayers of the Little Ones?! What chance did my selfishness stand with God against the sweet and sincere prayer of my daughter?
Without hesitation, I picked up my cell phone and began texting my friend, letting her know I would bow out today due to my concern of contamination. Even as I sat texting, my earthly side worried if my friend would understand or think me paranoid. I wavered in my resolve to stay home, wondering if I was making the right decision. My face knit in worried lines and I bit my lips.

Little girl ran by to wash the paint off her hands in the sink. As she skipped back to the dining room where her paints lay scattered on the dining table, she paused a moment and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, where I sat with the send button staring at me like a one-eyed monster.

​“Don’t worry, Mommy!” she smiled at me, “Do not worry, Mommy,” she repeated, “for God is with you all the time!” She smiled sweetly at me and then raced back to her paints.
Did I just hear that? I wondered as I watched my little girl run out of the kitchen. What more is there to say? With new resolve, I pressed the "Send" button and set down my cell phone.

“Thank you, Sweet Pea,” I called, “Mommy needed that encouragement.”

My little girl clambered atop the dining room chair, energetically waving with her paint brush. “That's why I said it!” she beamed.

“Thank you,” I repeated, “It did encourage me. And, we are staying home today!”
​
Little girl threw both her hands up in the air in the classic victory pose. “Yay!!!” she rejoiced, “PRAISE THE LORD!!”
​Today was a reminder that in the hustle and bustle of activities we schedule to keep our families involved, that we as parents do not neglect or relegate our roles.

Our time is precious with our children, our opportunity to shape and influence their thoughts and behaviors is immeasurable, and our responsibility to form the framework and foundation from which they function, operate, and stand is priceless. Here, in these few moments of time, I witnessed the power we as moms hold to pour life-giving and eternal truths into our children’s lives. Somewhere along the way, my sweet girl was listening, soaking in and applying the spiritual truths that she learned from her Sunday School, my husband, and myself.
I confess, it is easier at times to enroll or throw our sweet ones into activities, daycare, or preschool, so that we, moms, can work, run errands, organize households, exercise, socialize, and even partake in ministry. This is not bad or wrong in itself. If you are like me, it is desperately needed for the sake of sanity! However, let us just be cognizant of how much time we are giving of our children -  is every day filled to overflowing or is there a day to reconnect and just be with them?

Remember, our little ones will only be this age once in their lifetime! Before we know it, they will be attending school five days a week, with precious few hours remaining at the days' end for us to shape their hearts, souls, and minds. The world will have its say, its pressures, and its influence soon enough.

​Treasure the time you still have with your little ones while they are still small, while they still believe you are the be-all-end-all, while they still listen with rapt wonder, while they still respect your authority, and while their hearts are still tender to spiritual truths. Fill their spongy brains with Truth, Light, and Life. Take advantage of the time we hold with our children; take back and lay claim!

A Prayer for Myself

Dear Lord, help me to take advantage, take back, and lay claim to the heart, soul, and mind of my child for You. Help me to treasure the moments we share together and open my eyes to Christ's teaching opportunities. Grant me the strength and wisdom to persevere in the telling and teaching of God’s Word to my child.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    All Posts
    Inspirational writer and speaker Marjorie Wingert blogs about motherhood, family and more from a Christian perspective.

    Author

    Married to my best friend for over 20 years, my husband and I are the proud (and often exhausted!) parents of a vivacious kindergatener. As a vision-impaired mom, prayer and trust in the Lord play a vital and moment-to-moment role in my life. Read more ...

    Follow me:​

    All Posts
    Subscribe

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017


    Categories

    All
    Being Present
    Blindness
    Books By Marjorie Wingert
    Christian Parenting
    Colossians
    Death And Heaven
    ​Discernment
    Engaging Children
    Ephesians
    Fear
    Forgiveness And Humility
    Galatians
    Gentleness Vs. Firmness
    Growth And Change
    Hebrews
    Husbands And Fathers
    Husbands Wives And Marriage
    James
    John
    Letting Go
    Loneliness
    Music Talent And Praise
    Overcoming Challenges
    Parents' Prayers For Children
    Peter
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Prayer
    Protection And Prayer
    Speaking Events
    Spiritual Warfare
    Thessalonians
    Timothy
    Titus
    Weariness
    Worship

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

On the Wing author Marjorie Wingert logo

Site Map

Prayer Over Our Children Blog
Books, Music & More
About Marjorie
About the Blog
Speaking and Events to Schedule or Attend
Contact

Show Your Support

If you would like to send an offering, please click the button below to send a non-tax-deductible gift through PayPal and select the option to send a gift:
Send a Donation
If you prefer to send a check, please contact Marjorie for mailing address.

Stay in Touch

Follow Marjorie:
Subscribe to Blog
Copyright © 2017 - 2020
Photos from shixart1985 (CC BY 2.0), shixart1985, docoverachiever, US Department of State, lukas schlagenhauf, Harold Litwiler, Poppy, Stefan Tunkel, Theo Crazzolara, bill85704, mikecogh, Tony Armstrong-Sly
  • Prayer Over Our Children
    • Subscribe
  • Meditations
  • About
    • About Marjorie
    • About Prayer Over Our Children Blog
  • Books and Music
    • Feeling the Music Book
    • Meet Mr. Caleb
    • Sing Along With Mr. Caleb CD
  • Speaking and Events
  • Media Room
  • Contact