Starting My New Year Right

I cannot count my blessings. I'd love to. I have experienced wealth that cannot be weighed. I have the love of my husband, adoration of my children and the prayers of my parents.

I am blessed.

I have shelter, food and clean water. So many people don't have these luxuries that I use daily without much thought. Africa has made me more aware of cultures, needs of others and that God can use me to help others. I love having the opportunity to teach my children about life, needs, wants and thinking about others before themselves. I would like to take a few minutes to post my prayers for each of them for this upcoming year and as they develop one more year into the person God desires them to be.

Dear God,

I thank you for my son. For his laughter, his energy and his desire to learn. I pray that as he goes through this next year, you will open his heart to loving those around him, even those that are difficult to love. His gentle spirit will be strengthen as his confidence builds. His eyes will not only see pain from others, but want to step in and help. As he grows into a young man, he will learn to talk to you about his thoughts and his desire will be from You. I pray for his health as he grows, you will use him as he shines for you in all he does. Help him to use his gifts you have blessed him with and as a parent, show us where we can encourage and support his gifts for Your Glory!

I have been so blessed to have my daughter. She is outgoing and a bundle of joy. Her goal is to make others laugh and feel comfortable in her presence. She is a little leader, help us to guide her to use her gifts for your glory as well. As she learns how to treat people, I pray that you will give her heart to love and care for others. As she loves to talk, I pray that you will help her to listen to others around her and more importantly, to your will in Her life. As we parent her, give us the wisdom to love her and raise her in a way that she will desire you in all she does.

Then you blessed us with another precious daughter. A 9 month answer to prayer miracle you gave us and we praise you that she was healthy enough to deliver on Good Friday for that matter! We have a soft spot for this amazing gift you blessed us with. You have created her with the desire to be held. She loves people and I pray that you will give her the passion for others. That she will not only stand up for what she wants, but what You want for her. I pray that as we guide our lil daughter, You will show us where we can guide her, through her toddler years to a grown woman with a desire for you in all she does.

You spoke to our heart, we listened and you are preparing our life to include another precious miracle. We cannot wait to hold our baby You have handpicked just for us. There are many unknowns but with You, we can have faith. I pray now as this baby is being carried by his/her mother, that you will bless her heart and help her to reach out for you as she makes this difficult decision to give her precious child to us. Please give her peace with her choice knowing that her baby will learn about you and have not only food and shelter but much love and arms desiring to hold and cuddle, guide, protect and encourage as our precious lil one grows up to love you. And I also pray that you will help our baby know that he/she is so loved by us and his/her parents in Africa.

I thank you for each of these blessings. And I thank you for giving us another year to raise our children to love and follow you with your help.

Amen.

What are you thankful for this past year?