Fruit of the Spirit

I want my kids to live lives that display the Fruit of the Spirit.  To be children who learn to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, faithful, good, and self-cotntrolled.  To become adults, in the long run, who have been practicing these things for as long as they can remember.

Lord; this is your work.  I pray you'd grow these in my child. 

I know only the Spirit can develop those in them, but as a parent, I can be the gardener that provides the proper soil, light and water to ensure optimal growing circumstances. 

I pray for wisdom to provide that, and for your Spirit to work in me to grow those so I can be a great model of what it should look like.

Rejoicing that they are mine!

Rejoice in your children today - Paul writes to the Philippians "I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." Our children are always on our minds, but often (especially as they get older!) it's concerns for this issue or that attitude that we have in our thoughts.  Today, let's simply thank God for them and rejoice that they are ours, issues, attitudes and all!

May They Thrive

I pray that my children would thrive in new experiences - that more responsibility, being on a team, adapting to changes - would all contribute to them being happy individuals. 

May opportunities for growth like these not cause them too much stress, but bring them joy.

Joy

Today I pray simply for joy for my child.  May she be concerned with nothing she needs, but enjoy each moment, each person, and spread joy wherever she goes and in whatever she does.

A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).  May she be healing to those around her today because of her joy.

Remembering

May I remember, as I look at my older child, the joy and amazement and wonder I felt when she was new.  The overwhelming love.  May I choose to be amazed by her again, and to love her that fully and unconditionally.

Joy and Wonder

I pray for my child joy and wonder in each moment.  May she live not solely in anticipation of what's coming, but find something to appreciate and enjoy in the present every day.