Prayer and Parenting

We Pray
Simple – we pray. Daily… hourly if need be. We pray for the grace to be a good mom, to raise them up the way He would have us to do. We pray for wisdom, mercy, strength, tender ears, receptive hearts and good choices. We pray when things are going great, and we pray when things have just fallen apart.

From Carla Rolfe, Reformed mama of 7

I remember when I was a teen, hearing my Mom mention how important prayer had become to her, as a parent. I heard it, thought I understood it, but didn't really grasp it. And for the first several years of being a mother, I prayed--but didn't rely upon it in the midst of parenting like I do now.

In situations with my children that need correction, my first response is now pulling my child on my lap to cuddle, and praying--either silently or with my child.

It's amazing how quickly and effectively that stops misbehaviour, calms us BOTH down, and prepares us to easily address the problem.

My Mom was right. Praying is the key to parenting.

(Added: Rebecca is writing a series on prayer this month. I strongly recommend her Praying for your Children. Also see Spiritual Ingenue's Prayer for my Children.)

Posted by TulipGirl | 12:11 PM| TrackBack (0) | Words

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.tulipgirl.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/620

Comments

Good words for me this morning. My kids always seem to act out more when Craig is out of town (like this weekend) and when I should be at my most compassionate, I, also, am probably acting out that he's gone too and it doesn't make for a good combo.

Why is it that praying always seems to be the last thing I think to do rather than the first? I appreciate the reminder to pray with and for my girls right at the point of the situation...
Posted by: Megan at March 5, 2005 03:27 PM

Yes and amen. The first and most critical lesson I've learned living with a drug-and-alcohol affected child is PRAY. Sometimes I stand and pray for several minutes before I open my mouth to respond or correct. (And unfortunately, many times when I rush ahead and use my own wisdom and strength.) As we head towards the teen years I find I need even more supernatural strength to guard what I say. It is painfully easy to find myself responding like a jr. high kid instead of as a mother. It's harder to say "I know you are, but what am I?" when I am whispering Jesus' name. :) Great post!
Posted by: sparrow at March 5, 2005 03:43 PM

TG-I can so tell when I haven't taken time to pray. Thanks for the reminder.

:D
Posted by: Rae at March 5, 2005 06:34 PM

Thank you for your words of wisdom. I too try to remember to pray in anger-provoking situations with my children.

However, I never thought of pulling them aside and cuddling them to pray before I say or do anything else.

I really appreciate the insight. I do not remember my parents praying for me so I am learning as I go along.
Posted by: Victoria at March 5, 2005 11:55 PM

Thanks for the good reminder. God still has much to teach me about prayer for my child (one so far, more to come, God willing) as he is just 9 months old, but I have learned that prayer is the best thing when my husband and I have conflicts.
Posted by: Dogwood Blue at March 6, 2005 01:51 AM

Yes, I posted this as a reminder to myself as much as anything else. As I realize more personally my daily reliance on God, the more prayer is becoming my reflexive response.

Welcome, Victoria! I don't think I've seen you around before. *grin*

DB, I'm having trouble getting to your comments, but I've been enjoying your blog a lot lately.
Posted by: TulipGirl at March 6, 2005 01:03 PM

Post a comment

RSS RSS2 Atom

Creative Commons License

In My Garden