| Dear
Lord, make me a better parent.
Teach me to understand my children, to
listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all the
questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them,
and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have
them be to me. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my
children and to ask their forgiveness when I know that I have done them
a wrong.
May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my
children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or resort to
shame and ridicule as punishment. Let me not tempt my child to lie and
to steal. So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say
and do that honesty produces happiness.
| "Teach a
child to choose the right path, and when he is older he will
remain upon it." Proverbs
22:6 (LB) |
Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I
cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help me to hold my tongue.
Blind me to the little errors of my
children and help me see the good things that they do. Give me a ready
word for honest praise.
Help me to grow up with my children, to
treat them as I would those of their own age; but let me not exact of
them the judgment and conventions of adults. Allow me not to rob them of
the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose, and to
make decisions.
Forbid that I should ever punish them for
my selfish satisfaction. May I grant them all their wishes that are
reasonable and have the courage always to withhold a privilege which I
know will do them harm.
Make me so fair and just, so considerate
and companionable to my children that they will have a genuine esteem
for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated.
With all your gift, Dear Jesus, give me
calm, poise, and self-control.
Author Unknown |
