I marvel at favor. It is the manifestation of God’s goodness, expressed into our lives through the unmerited kindness and favor of people. Being witness to favor is a beautiful part of parenting that no one warned me about.
As a parent, your heart walks outside of your body. It is the ultimate sacrifice of control. Protection and control are in God’s hands, not yours. In my short year of being a first time parent the experience of seeing favor being showered onto my child is a visual reminder to me of all of the small ways in which God sprinkles love onto us and of how well cared-for we are in the palm of His hands. I really believe that God deepens our understanding of His goodness by allowing us to be witness to the lives and blessings of our own children, for when someone blesses Ellie with a smile, with kindness or with attention, I feel inordinately blessed.
Looking into the azure blue eyes of my little girl makes me well up with pride. Ellie is a walking answer to prayer. My prayers over her while in utero are being visibly walked out as she teeters through the world, finding favor and lighting up joy with every person she meets. The favor Ellie finds with others isn’t a coincidence, but rather, it is answered prayer. It has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with God.
All of my proud momma feelings aside, I pray that my heart might be pure as I lead my little girl to love others well. I pray that, with every interaction both she and I have, that we might live out the purpose of love. That, in whatever occurs, the person with whom our lives touch, might feel the overflow of God’s love through us.
As I take witness to the miracle of a baby turning into a little girl, and watch the intricate changes of development on a day-to-day basis, my prayers have new focus: I pray for kindness, courage and capacity.
I pray for kindness in her heart, that she might express …
Kindness in noticing others
Kindness in slowing down to love
Kindness in the value of a smile
Kindness in the value of companionship
Kindness is having a heart filled with wonder
I pray for courage in her heart, that she might live out …
Courage to explore the world with confidence
Courage to try things after failing
Courage to make new friends
Courage to express her likes and dislikes
Courage to form her own personality
I pray for capacity in her heart, that she might grow in her …
Capacity to love others well.
Capacity to fill her mind with words.
Capacity to emotionally process experiences
Capacity to see people for who they are
Capacity to light up a room with her smile
Capacity to inspire laughter.
As I continue to sit front row to the unfolding live of my little Ellie, and I witness His favor bestowed upon her life, I have peace in my heart over the purpose that God has for each one of us. I have confidence in Ellie’s place in this world – and confidence that she is a little, walking reflection of His love. I pray that I might never lose sight of our true purpose here on Earth – to shine light where there is darkness and to love like Jesus loved.
If you want more prayers for your children, check out my other “prayers for Ellie” posts:
Post #1: Baby Girl Prayers: http://bit.ly/1JXz7ow
Post#2: 10 Prayers for Your Baby: http://bit.ly/1Nv2L3q
Post#3: Prayers of Protection: http://bit.ly/1DTajwW
Post #4: Prayers for Prosperity: http://bit.ly/1NM0GQ2
Post #5: Prayers for Favor and Purpose: http://bit.ly/1RXm4Ji