Praying for Parents

Luke 2:43-48

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”

Lord,
I love that even you
gave your parents a tough time.
Boy, was your Mom upset with you?!

Raising children is one of the hardest jobs.
Lord,
give parents
an extra measure of your wisdom
to know how best to direct our children
to grow in grace and gratitude.
Give parents
an extra measure of your grace
to heal wounds, hold broken hearts, and wipe tears.
Give parents
an extra measure of your love
to love when its hard.

And give ALL your children
moldable hearts
to be shaped more and more
into your likeness and love.
Amen.