a parent's prayer

Today was one of those days, the kind where my children have pushed every button and I have failed in countless ways. This humbling kind of day is good, though - it reminds me of how much I stink at life when I try to do it on my own. This day led me back to this prayer, which I needed and will add to my morning prayers. And that is a good thing.

O Heavenly Father, make me a better parent.

Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.

Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me.

May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power.

Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal.

And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all that I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. And when I'm out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

May I ever be mindful that my children are children and I should not expect of them the judgement of adults.

Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and to make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm.

Make me fair and just and kind and fit, O Lord, to be loved and respected and imitated by my children. Amen.

-from "Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home"