YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer For Your Child's First Overnight Camp

Father God,

You give us so much freedom

to explore your created earth,

and who you have made each of us

to be within it.

I pray that this week feels like that for my child.

Though they are excited to go to camp,

they are also nervous—

anxious about leaving their safe spaces

and home comforts.

And I am anxious about letting them.

I have so many worries

about things I have absolutely no control over.

I cannot go along with them to make sure

everything is okay, but you can, Father,

you can.

So I bring all my worries to you today,

trusting you with each one.

Pause and take a moment to prayerfully list your specific worries for your child. Open your hands and imagine letting go of each worry as it comes to you.

Lord, I know your love for my child is vast,

and I ask for this to be evident to them—

through caring and understanding counselors,

new friendships full of laughter

and a sense of belonging.

Speak to them in the

star-filled skies and quiet mornings,

in the absence of screens and school,

with the space to simply be.

This is also a chance for me to remember

my own sense of self apart from

being their parent, so I ask for your

presence to surround me with

peace as I trust in you.

May we all reunite after this time apart

grateful for your love and

for each other.

Amen.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
Produced by: Dan Gummel.
Music: Blue.sessions.

Find us and more free resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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A Prayer For Flying With Littles

Father God,

Parenting small children comes with

its share of absurdities,

and airplane travel with littles is

certainly a recipe for chaos!

Lord, I am going to need your help

to keep from losing my cool

somewhere on a moving walkway

in middle America.

Before we even leave for the airport, Lord,

would you fill us with patience and peace?

Would you help us be open-minded and adaptable?

When someone has a bathroom emergency,

or spills their airplane beverage down their only shirt,

when I am forced to hold the oversized stuffed animal

they promised they would carry,

when someone is lagging behind and I’m worried

we will miss family boarding,

when the sweets that kept them entertained

cause a meltdown an hour later,

when a stranger comments (yet again)

that I have my hands full,

help me laugh at the absurdity of it all

and remember that this day, and this phase,

will not last forever.

One day I will look back fondly

on the ridiculous outfits my kids chose to wear,

the silly and ill-timed comments,

the adorable lack of awareness,

the tiny hand holding mine in a crowd.

It is a gift, after all, to be carrying

the common stressors of needy babies

and trinket-laden toddlers.

So help us reject the frantic hurry

that often characterizes travel days,

and stay open to the gifts of

the journey itself.

May we laugh often and breathe deeply

the joys of simply being together,

wherever we find ourselves.

Amen.

FAMILY CONNECTION MOMENT

There is no denying how helpful screens can be during a long travel day! Download some new puzzle or game apps that you can do with your kids on the plane. Let screens be a point of connection, rather than just a way for everyone to zone out.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
Produced by: Dan Gummel

Find us and more free resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer For When Their Faith Looks Different Than Expected

Lord, I remember when my son prayed to you.

He closed his eyes, lifted his face,

and spoke with his whole heart.

Now I see him distracted, restless,

reaching for anything that keeps him from being still.

He no longer seems to know you as he once did.

His desires pull him in other directions.

Still, I know his faith is present.

He cannot shake the truth of the resurrection

or forget the ways you have met him,

answered him, and held him in love.

Even now, something in him keeps reaching back to you.

So meet him where he is, God.

Meet him in the ache, in the confusion,

and in the places he avoids.

Come close with real presence and understanding.

Help him feel your heart of grace looking at him, finding him…

Where anger rises,

listen and meet him with justice and mercy.

Where questions linger,

speak to the deeper need behind them.

Where doubt clouds his vision,

keep him grounded and help him see what’s true.

You are faithful in every season,

in our devotion and in our wandering.

So be everything that you are and

let your goodness and mercy

follow my son all the days of his life.

I trust him to your care.

Help me remain patient and mirror your grace.

Form in me a steady love that reflects your own.

Amen.

Author - Cheree Hayes

produced by Dan Gummel
music by blue.sessions

Find us and more free resources at:
www.gracebased.com