Prayer for the Strong Willed Child {and His Weak Mama}

I drop young’uns off at school and come home, hang up keys, and walk up stairs. I walk to my sons’ room and I sit on tallest boy’s bed. I stare at piles of books and clothes and fish tank supplies and wish this mess to be the only one he ever lives, even though I know that’s not possible. I lay down on his bed and wonder about another mess,

“Am I getting to the heart of this boy whose strong-willed nature makes parenting him feel like walking a tight rope? How much of a mess do I invite when my patience plummets and my blood pressure rises?”

It’s an acute fear with this strong-willed kiddo, that I’ll mess up his relationship with me and God. When the F5 emotions swirl, I don’t always calm the storm. I am learning to breathe in Jesus and let His peace calm the storm for me.

And I pray like his life depends on it. Because really? It does.

Prayer for the Strong Willed Child {and His Weak Mama}

Oh Father,

Thank you for this treasure-child, this grace-teacher who keeps me humble. You know the good and hard stuff that comes with raising him, and how I fret over feeling ill equipped. Help me remember I have your easy yoke and light burden to lean on and learn from, and that You spill overflowing grace all over my parenting gaps.

Help him see the behavior in me I want to see in him. His eagle eyes see and hear my actions most. When he pushes boundaries and argues limits, give me your supernatural ability to make the situation better, not worse. Don’t let me fuel the storm with hot-tempered, windy words. May I diffuse the unstable air with words and behavior that define grace and peace. Make me a gentle wind that blows him towards You.

Open my eyes to those times he genuinely needs more room to test his wings. Make me see the difference between downright disrespect that needs correcting and reigns that need loosening.

Help me see the sneaky, ugly roots of pride growing so I may yank them out at the roots.

Help me see past the tough exterior to the insecure interior and build him up with the best tool around: your Word. Help me seal the cracks by freely and generously lending love so I represent You well. Show me how to mold his passion into faith that moves mountains.

May his strong-willed bent lend itself to a firm foundation built on nothing but Christ.

Turn to dust and windblown chaff anything standing in the way of a full and healthy relationship with You. Give me wisdom on how to build up not break down our relationship. I am weak, but You are strong. Carry us both today and always.

In the mighty name of Jesus,

{And all the mamas of strong willed babies said}

Amen

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