Christian Reflection and Prayer

Perhaps the invisible shield we hang over our
children is made up of the values we instill in
them, our desperate caring, our prayer for their
safety. So we turn to prayer—for our children
and maybe just as much for ourselves. We
join our concern with God’s—the divine parent
who loves them even more than we do.

We do not pray for our children in some wishful
way, superstitiously trying to prevent all harm.
Instead we take an active stance that recognizes
our human limitations at the same time it bows
before God’s power. “I will do everything I can
to keep them safe,” we say. “But I’m imperfect.
I call on you, great God and loving parent, to
protect them when I cannot.”

We ask for an avalanche of blessings, all the
best God has in store for them.

- Kathy Coffey
Christian, appropriate for many faiths
source: “God Knows Parenting Is a Wild Ride”
(Sorin Books), © 2002 Kathy Coffey