The most significant and wondrous adventure of my life was welcoming my first child into the world – a girl. This daughter I pray for calls the mountains her birthplace and I call it the time when God taught me the kindness of strangers, the care of a Mennonite doctor, and the healthy respect for snowy roads, wood stoves, and only three television channels (via antenna).
I am thankful that You, Lord, gifted her to love reading and writing and You equipped her for the unique profession of marketing. Continue to use her persuasive skills to promote ideas and items that are healthy and edifying, for the common good of all who are blessed to benefit. Continue to speak rest and restoration to her through Your gifts of the ocean waves, the summer sun, and the cooling pool. Continue to develop her awareness of the intricacies of Your Creation – the nutrition of untainted grain, the naturalness of colors You placed in nature, and the substances You designed to encourage healthy living. Use her convincing voice to help others in gaining that awareness of all that is good.
Lord, I ask You to place Your comforting hand on this daughter as she is in the season of letting go of her maturing children – with loosely tied ribbon that has plenty of “give” and never ever separates, but allows for launching that God has always intended. Bless her with an enduring assurance that her husband and children are God’s gifts to her to steward and enjoy, and that the testing of her faith in family life is the way God brings beauty to the fore in her life, for His glory.
Thank you God for giving this girl natural sweetness, fierce love for You and others, and courage to confront the hardness of brokenness in places least expected. Cause her to persist in reflecting the sparkling qualities of Philippians 4:8 – what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent. The radiance of foundational strength that is found in the “stones of turquoise” in Isaiah 54:10-13. The shimmer of unworried birds of the air (Matthew 6:26) who are clothed and cared for by the Father.
Author and Finisher of our faith, enable this daughter to set her eyes on You alone and not the heart wrenches of relational misunderstanding, purposeful snubbing, or flawed institutions. Cause her to flourish and thrive, not because she’s met the expectations and demands of others, but because You are her true and only Source and Your love never disappoints.
With Your amazing grace, bring her safely through this season of emptying the nest, discerning what creative and productive activities will occupy her near future, and what relational investments will be most worthy of her effort and of Your praise. Enable her to reflect the rooted stability of the “tree” metaphor in Psalm 1:1-3, firmly planted, resilient, and close to the spiritual Water Source (Jesus, our Shepherd).
Thank You for granting me the great privilege of being her mother!
Amen.
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