“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Luke 11:11-13

Dear God, our children will never know how much we love them. They don’t understand the depths of the pain and joy they can bring us. How much we can hurt for them when we they hurt. How much we worry about them. How much we root for them. How much we celebrate with them.

I guess we also will never know how much you love us. We don’t understand the depths of the pain and joy we can bring you. How much you can hurt for us when we hurt. How much you worry about us. How much you root for us. How much you celebrate us. And how much our rejection can hurt your.

Father, I’m thinking of some specific situations right now that need your attention. For privacy, I won’t enumerate them here, but you know who is on my heart. Mothers of young children who are possibly gravely ill. Children who are in danger. Broken relationships between parents and children. Holy Spirit, be everything you are to each person. Be a counselor, comforter, healer, etc. Be the Father’s presence with each of us. Help to make this pain count. For your glory, oh, Lord.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen