Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

I’m Not A Perfect Mother

By Lynn June 4, 2010 Character, Devotion, Faith, Motherhood, Prayer

My daughter’s 15th birthday is around the corner. She has grown up fast in her first year of high school. She attends public school here in Southern California and her freshman year was eye opening. The first month of school at the tender age of 14 she witnessed a friend on drugs, was hit on by a girl, wrangled the halls along with students clothed in every bizarre fashion you can think up and discovered High school curriculum was a whole bunch harder than middle school.

As she ends the school year, I have to stand back in awe at who she has become as a person and as a follower of Jesus. This kid knows who she is and has made good choices not out of fear of me or because of the threat of punishment but for herself. She has chosen to cling to the values she knew as a child because of her faith. Because of Jesus.

This is the best thing a mom could ever hope for. I’m not a perfect mother by a long way. I am also married to an unbeliever so the challenges to raise a child to love Jesus are enormous. But, along the way I may have done a few things right. The best thing I did was to pray.

I pray every day for my child by name. I ask the Lord to protect her from evil people and evil spirits. I ask God to reveal Himself to her in some way during the day. I ask Him to help her to remember to pray to Him when she is feeling scared, insecure or tense. I usually utter this prayer in the car as I drive away after dropping her off at school in the morning. I may look like an idiot in my car muttering away but I know I have left that school with God’s covering over that child.

In addition to praying as I drive away, I pray with her on the way to school. I think the most powerful prayers every uttered for this child occurred in the car. Who would think it? I reach out my hand, touch her knee, and start praying something like this.

Lord Jesus, watch over my girl today. Give her something to laugh about today. Teach her how to be a good friend. Help her to remember that You are watching over her and to pray when she is facing decisions. Lord, also help her to do well on the science test today. In Jesus name. Amen.

I’m not a perfect mother but I serve a perfect God. He hears our prayers. Our children need to hear us pray for them. This is our living legacy of faith. Live it out loud. And finally, I cling to this verse:

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

The key to this verse is the word “old.” That can mean 80 years of age but God will honor your efforts and your prayers. I know this because I am living proof of its truth.

Be blessed, The Prodigal Daughter, Lynn

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5 thoughts on “I’m Not A Perfect Mother”

  4. Iris

    You are right, Lynn…we are not perfect mothers, but with His help we do the best we can. I too cling to the verse in Proverbs, especially now since our son no longer lives at home (and I no longer have control – lol)…

    Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us.