Kindergarten Prayer

Tomorrow this is happening. 

I can't stop it. Honestly, I don't know if I want to stop it. Maybe I'll just go with her. I can be a really good student. And a great help to her teacher.

Who am I kidding? She's ready. She's SO ready...even though I'm not. Part of me feels like this is the beginning of the end. She's going off to school where she'll be away from me more than she'll be with me...and it's only going to get worse as she gets older. But then I remember. She's not really mine anyway. She is a gift given to me by the Father. She is His.

And this isn't the beginning of the end. It's the beginning of the beginning. I can stomp my feet and cry about it or I can pray for her as she enters this wonderful new chapter in her life. I can trust Him to be with her just as He has trusted me with her precious little life from the beginning.

So as she walks down that long hallway on her first day of Kindergarten and looks back at me and waves goodbye, I will be praying for her.

Lord God, Almighty,

Protect her. Protect her eyes from seeing unkind acts. Protect her ears from hearing unloving words. Protect her innocence. Protect her confidence. Give her wisdom in choosing friends. Give her courage to do what is right even if she does it alone. Give her bravery to tell others about Your love. Allow her to show compassion and mercy to others. Let her be Your light. Help her have fun. Help her learn. Help her remember Your truths. Help her be a problem solver, but ask for help when needed. I pray that she loves her teacher. That she eats enough lunch. That she finds a favorite friend. That we don't argue about what she wears. Help me encourage her. Help me feel the same excitement that she does about this new adventure. Help me let go of the control over every little thing she does. Help me trust her to be the kind of person we've taught her to be...gracious, loving, empathetic, courteous, giving, patient, forgiving. Thank you for her. Thank you for trusting me to be her mom. Thank you for this new chapter.

In Christ Jesus' Name,

Amen