Prayer for My Son

Lord, be with my child.
He will face temptation, hardship, and wrestlings,
And I will not be by his side.
But you, Lord, are always with him,
And will continue to be, long after I am gone.

Grant him wisdom.
Fill him with your spirit.
Let him be sensitive to the stirrings you place within him.
Let him listen to the still small voice,
To love the truth and goodness of your words,
To love you above all else.
Help him have courage to choose what is right,
Even when he stands alone.
Help him know your goodness
And lean hard upon you when he cannot see the way forward.

Grant him growth.
Let his hands be strong for the tasks you have set before him.
May his feet find paths that lead to life.
Thank you for the health you have given him,
And help him be a good steward of this earthly body.

Let his heart grow in you, Lord.
Teach him to love the unlovable,
To be generous to those who cannot repay him,
To notice the downtrodden and discouraged
And build up those around him.
Help him learn not to be selfish.
Instead let him find that joy that comes from service and generosity and love.
Help him to know what you want him to change.
Help him be at peace with what he cannot change,
And let him always find rest in you.

Help him to be gentle with those who are weaker than he is.
Help him be patient.
Help him learn to be like your son, Lord.
Grant him good friends,
Who will speak truth when he needs it,
And not desert him when times are hard.
Help him to do the same for them.
Help him withstand the pressures that life will put on him.
Help him resist and see clearly where you want him to go.

He is not mine, Lord.
He never was. His soul belongs to you.
Shape him to be who you made him to be,
Unique and lovely and tender.

Thank you for the privilege of being his mother,
The invisible gifts of time and love.
May I steward his soul well
And learn from you
The only perfect parent.

My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad. ~ Proverbs 23:15

Photo by Adrian Schledorn on Unsplash