Keep Watering, Moms. Some Children are Late Bloomers

Pop! 

All of a sudden the flowers popped!

 For years I watered this little two-leafed plant. 

The results: 

 one leaf fell off.

 I would have thrown her away, but she was a gift from someone I loved, 

so I kept watering. 

My only goal was keep that one leaf alive. 

Then, 

one day 

another leaf grew, 

and another. 

This week, 

in the dead of winter, 

she popped. 

One flower,

 now two, 

and three on it's way. 

Some children are late bloomers.

 Keep watering, moms!

 When a leaf falls to the ground, 

keep watering, Moms! 

God is creating your beautiful flower

 in His Time, 

in His Way. 

"Train up a child the way he should go:

 and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

 (Proverbs 22:6)

Splashes of Serenity on your day!

Amy Carmichael's Prayer for Children

My heart is heavy for our children and the effects of isolation in a pandemic. Bonding with the family is good, but children need activity. Lots of activity. Boredom brings bad behavior. Not just behavior that annoys, but behavior that harms.

What is a parent to do? Our number one weapon is prayer. In cleaning out files today, I found a prayer by Amy Carmichael. Her words so beautiful, I am sharing with you as we raise our voices to God to hold our children close to His Heart.

Father, hear us, we are praying,

Hear the words our hearts are saying,

We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the power of evil,

From the secret, hidden peril, 

Father,  hear us, for our children.

From the whirlpool that would suck them,

From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them,

Father, hear us, for our children.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,

From the sting of faithless sadness,

Father, Father,  keep our children.

Through life's troubled waters steer them,

Through life's bitter battle cheer them,

Father, Father, be Thou near them.

Read the language of our longing,

Read the wordless pleadings thronging,

Holy Father, for our children.

And wherever they may bide,

Lead them Home at eventide.

Praying for children today,