Good morning, friends!
Lately, as our adult children plan their weddings, Noah prepares for his sophomore year, and Anthony gets ready to start high school as a freshman, I find myself reflecting on just how quickly the years have passed.
I think back to when Faith and Joshua were little. I remember praying that God would help me be a good stepmom and give me the wisdom to love and support them well. Watching them grow into the adults they are today has been one of life’s greatest blessings. They have both graduated from college, built successful careers, and found the people they want to spend the rest of their lives with. As a parent, part of me wants to breathe a sigh of relief and think, “Whew, we’ve made it this far!”
But parenting does not really work that way, does it?
Now, as our younger boys enter some of the most important decision making years of their lives, I find myself praying even more. As parents, we naturally want our children to be successful, kind, hardworking, and wise. We want them to surround themselves with people who encourage them to become their best selves. We want them to make good choices and learn from the difficult moments along the way.
While I trust that God has a plan for each of them, there is still that little part of a parent’s heart that wonders what choices they will make, what paths they will choose, and how the influences around them will shape their journey.
Today, I am leaning into prayer.
I pray that our children grow into adults who love others well, show kindness, work hard, and continue striving to be better each day. I pray they learn resilience through challenges and humility through success. I pray they always know they can come to us with the hard stuff, not only for comfort, but also for guidance and accountability. Most of all, I pray they understand that the choices they make today can shape the course of their future.
In a world filled with noise, chaos, and controversy, I pray they find peace, wisdom, and the courage to be a light for others.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
If you need prayer for your kiddos, or for someone else’s kiddos, please let me know. I would be honored to pray with you.
Parenting is truly an evolving journey, and each phase brings its unique challenges and blessings. From personal experience, I’ve learned that leaning into prayer during these times of transition — whether children are graduating, starting new academic levels, or planning major life events — provides unexpected comfort and clarity. When my own children faced decisions about their futures and relationships, it helped me to remind myself that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Trusting a higher plan, as well as encouraging open communication, often leads to stronger connections. I often find strength in the words TobyMac shared: "They may feel out of your reach, but they're never out of Mine." This reminder resonates deeply when parenting seems overwhelming or when you just don’t know how to pray for your kids in difficult moments. It helps to remind ourselves that even when we feel distant or uncertain, our children are always cared for beyond our reach. Another thing I’ve found valuable is encouraging my kids to view challenges as opportunities to build resilience and learn humility — qualities that serve well beyond childhood. Watching them grow not only involves celebrating their accomplishments but also guiding them through setbacks, which ultimately shapes their character. Lastly, I believe creating a safe space where kids can come to us with their "hard stuff" is vital. This openness fosters trust and accountability while guiding them toward wise decisions. Amid the noise and chaos of today’s world, nurturing their compassion, wisdom, and courage to be a light for others is perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can offer as parents.
