A Parent's Prayer

O Master, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they say, and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them, and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I want them to 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 wronged them.

May I never hurt my children’s feelings. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or ridicule them as punishment. Let me never tempt them to lie or steal. Guide me hour after hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things that they do. Give me the ability to say the right word when honestly giving them praise when they do right.

Help me to grow up with my children, to treat them as children not as adults. Let me never judge them according to the standards of adult behavior. Do not allow me to rob them of the opportunity, to think, to choose, to make decisions, and to wait upon themselves.

Forbid that I should ever punish them for my own selfish satisfaction. May I grant them all their wishes that are within reason and have the courage to always withhold privileges that can cause them harm.

Make me so fair and just, considerate, and compassionate to my children, that they will have the genuine esteem for me. Make me worthy of being loved and imitated by them.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4