A Prayer

I have a prayer in my heart that continues on repeat, day after day, moment by moment, like the continuous crashing of waves.

It's for my children, both grown and growing, a cry of my heart so to speak.

Over and over we are reminded that around any corner there may be trouble, or a mountain we must climb to never allow defeat. Those same corners can also hold immense blessing and joy. We don't know what is coming, we don't know whether the next big thing in our life will be something to celebrate or something to mourn, and at times, the thought of this can be overwhelming.

My hope and prayer as we navigate through life for my children is that they never stay on the ground defeated when they fall. That they will get back up and brush of the muck and keep pressing on, in perseverance. No matter what lies around the next corner they rise up and take those corners with courage, knowing that whatever may lie ahead can be met with strength and and a steadfast spirit that will win through the good, bad and ugly. That they may be able to push aside fear and face whatever is ahead of them with sound mind and a forgiving heart. I know there will be hurts and things that seem so very heavy to carry along on our journey, but through those things they will be reminded that they are not alone, not meant to carry burdens on their own. That they can and will be victorious, if they so choose.

Forgiveness... That's a big one. Forgive others and you will be free. Do not allow anger to rule in your hearts, and see that there is always something to find that is good and allow themselves to be free from what can crush the spirit, as anger can do. That they will never be so caught up in their own plans that they can't see there is something better waiting on the horizon for them, if they would just look and see that they can bend, and not be stuck just because of something their heart wanted didn't come to fruition. That just because it seems a door may have closed, does not mean that it closed permanently, and being patient and not pushing can potentially swing the door open to something they could have never imagined.

When things go well, that they always remember to be grateful and embrace every single moment in thanks and wonder.  When things don't go as they'd hoped that the remember to do the same and learn what they can from the experience. That they always look at others with an empathetic heart and a willing listening ear. That when they look at the people around them, they don't see what they are wearing or driving, they just see the hearts of others, and they show love in their responses.

In this world we have seen trouble both around us and in our own lives. These experiences have molded us into who we are today.  We are not the same that we were before. In some ways we are better and in other ways we feel broken. My hope is that we remember we are not the definition of our past mistakes, but we become better and learn from them, that we don't stay in the valley, and see that there is a light ahead and press towards that light, and become a brighter light that shines for others to see.

As a mother, my heart wants to bind up all the wounds our children have felt and toss them into the bottom of the ocean, far away from us, never to be seen or heard from again.  I know that this is impossible, but mothers would go to many lengths to at least try to smother the burning heat of those flames of life's hardest trials.

Above all these things, that they never feel without hope. That they realize when the going gets tough, there is always, ALWAYS, hope and something is waiting around the next corner that can bring more joy and blessing than they could ever possibly know. Open, forgiving hearts find that there are still good things in life worth experiencing. A closed, angry heart cannot receive the goodness that is still to be experienced.  There is still beauty in this world, and if we look hard enough we can see it. It may not be what we had planned, but sometimes our plans aren't as great as what is on the horizon. Be willing to work hard, love, forgive and then be willing to receive abundantly greater things than even your heart could desire.

That is my hope and my prayer.  Press on my loves, with all that is in you.