This is My Prayer

I can't believe February is almost half over and I haven't written one post yet! I guess my mind's been on other things, revising stories and preparing for my husband's birthday. Also, Valentine's Day is tomorrow (as you probably know), and my husband and I were asked to be on a panel (which you probably don't know) to answer questions about marriage and romance for college students. Public speaking is on my 'top ten things I hate the most', so I'll tell you later how it goes!

I have been extra-excited these past few weeks because we are starting a study in Paul's epistle to the Philippians at our church. If I had to choose a favorite book of the Bible, it would be Philippians. Chapter after chapter, I find beautiful passages that sing like poetry, familiar verses that I welcome like old friends, and nuggets of gold that I can tuck in my heart. And now, I have the privilege of studying the book with our weekly small group and gaining insight from other growing Christians!

Jocelyn is a fellow mom (of three boys) in our group that I have had the pleasure of getting to know better. She likes to ask questions, which I find refreshing because sometimes I've read a passage so many times that I can't find anything new in it! She's also honest and open about her Christian walk, and I'm encouraged when I know that someone has experiences similar to what I go through.

Yesterday, she sent an e-mail to the group and shared this with us (which I'm sharing with you, with her permission):

I was reading Philippians 1 after a rough morning with the kids - After a week of peace among the brothers last week, they're at it again... fighting over silly things and not having the ability to stop themselves from irritating their brothers. Ugh. It was on that note that I read Paul's words in verses 9-10, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ ... and this one (verse 27): Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 

Would like to ask for prayer this week, that the Holy Spirit would help me to discern what is best... and that I would conduct myself "in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." I often get annoyed or upset and try to command or yell away their negative attitude or punish with consequences. I'm at a loss for what to do to "fix" this problem... pray that I would remember that God is also doing a good work in my kids' hearts, and that I would be able to tend to that garden and help them to grow.

The 'good work' Jocelyn is referring to is from verse 6, ...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. And it is such a wonderful reminder that children need years of nurturing and teaching. While it may be easier to find a 'quick fix' for the problem at hand, sometimes a gentle word or deeper talk is more appropriate and meaningful. A change of action gives you peace for the present, but a change of the heart means a long and lasting response. After all, children are not computers who need data entry, but, like Jocelyn says, they are gardens, needing daily attention and time to grow. 

I encourage you to read and reread Philippians 1 everyday for the rest of this month. It is a wonderful, encouraging passage for all Christians, but especially applicable for us parents who need a reminder that our children are 'works in progress', as are we. I myself have been started praying verses 9-11 daily for my children. I like how the New Century Version phrases it (though I don't know how precise the translation is):

This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; 

that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; 

that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; 

that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ; 

that you will do many good things with the help of Christ 

to bring glory and praise to God.

What a great way to sum up all that I feel in my heart for my children. The other night, I took out the journals I have for each child, and copied the passage into each book. I hope that when they are older, they will read these verses and the words will resound in them.