My friend Dawn posted this song on her blog and I LOVED it. It is a great reflection of my prayers for Mary Laine.
I do not know how I am to pray for this child
As a mother I don't want my baby denied
But in the waiting, in the waiting
I learned to hold on to the heart of God.
Every instinct in me wants to shield him from pain
Take the arrows of misery, heartache and blame
But in the sorrow, in the sorrow
I learned to hold on to the heart of God.
I only have two eyes - be all seeing
I only have two hands - be everywhere
I do not know enough - to be all knowing
I give this baby up into your care
I do not know how I am to pray for this child
I want to guard him from everything wicked and wild
but in the trial, in the trial
I learned to hold on
And in the trial, in the trial
I learned to hold on to the heart of God
And on the subject of not knowing how to pray for your child, another friend, Natalie, posted a great list of scriptual prayers for your children. This has been a great aid to me in knowing how to better pray for Mary Laine. There are 30 of them, so I focus on one spiritual attribute each day.
A love for God's word
May ____grow to find your word "more precious that gold, and sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb." Psalm 19:10
Justice
God, help ____to love justice as you do and to "act justly" in all he/she does. Psalm 11:7 /Micah 6:8
Mercy
May ____always "be merciful, as his/her Father is merciful." Luke 6:36
Respect
Father, grant that ____may "show proper respect to everyone," as your word commands.
1 Peter 2:17
Strong, biblical self-esteem
Help ____develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that s/he is "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." Eph. 2:10
Faithfulness
"Let love and faithfulness never leave ____," but bind these twin virtues around his/her neck and write them on the tablet of his/her heart. Proverbs 3:3
A passion for God
Lord, please instill in ____a soul with a craving for you, a heart that clings passionately to You. Psalm 63:8
Courage
May ____always "be strong and courageous" in his/her character and actions.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Salvation
Lord, let salvation spring up within ____, that he/she may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Isaiah 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10
Growth in Grace
I pray that ____may "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18
Love
Grant, Lord, that ____may learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in him/her.
Eph. 5:2, Galatians 5:22
Honesty and Integrity
May integrity and honesty be ____'s virtue and his/her protection. Psalm 25:21
Self Control
Father, help ____not to be like many other's around him/her, but let him/her be "alert and self-controlled" in all he/she does. 1 Thes. 5
Responsibility
Grant that ____may learn responsibility, "for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:5
Kindness
Lord, may ____"always try to be kind to his/her siblings and to everyone else." 1 Thes. 5:15
Generosity
Grant that ____may "be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves a firm foundation for the coming age." 1 Tim. 6:18-19
Peace
Father, let ____"make every effort to do what leads to peace." Romans 14:19
Hope
May the God of hope grant that ____may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Perseverance
Lord, teach ____perseverance in all s/he does, and help him/her especially to "run with perseverance the race marked out before him/her." Hebrews 12:1
Humility
Lord, please cultivate in ____the ability to "show true humility toward all." Titus 3:2
Compassion
Lord, please clothe ____with the virtue of compassion. Col. 3:12
Prayerfulness
Grant, Lord, that ____'s life may be marked by prayerfulness, that s/he may learn to "pray in the Spirit on alloccasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Eph. 6:12
Contentment
Father, teach ____"the secret of being content in any and every situation...through him who gives him/her strength. Phil. 4:12-13
Faith
I pray that faith will find root and grow in ____'s heart, that by faith s/he may gain what has been promised to him/her. Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40
A servants heart
Lord, please help ____develop a servants heart, that s/he may serve wholeheartedly "as if he/she were serving the Lord, not men." Eph. 6:7
Purity
Create in ____a pure heart, O God, "and let his/her purity of heart be shown in his/her actions.
Psalm 51:10
A willingness and ability to work hard
Teach ____, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything s/he does, "as working for the Lord, not for men." Col. 3:23
Self-discipline
Father, I pray that ____may develop self-discipline, that s/he may acquire "a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." Proverbs 1:3
A heart of missions
Lord, please help ____to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:3
Joy
May ____be filled "with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." 1 Thes. 1:6
Happy Mother's Day!!!
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Mary Laine with Aunt Kelly
Mary Laine with Uncle Andy
Meeting cousin Jacob - he could get such great smiles out of her!
Snuggling with cousin Payton first thing in the morning
Here is a picture of Gary with newborn Jacob almost 10 years ago. I'll have to find a good one of Payton to post later. Gary and I started dating 10 days after Jacob was born.
Playing ball - it was great to get some quality time with Jacob and Payton! They're growing up so fast!
Payton was my big helper in the kitchen all week. She helped with every meal.
Jacob could get the biggest smiles out of Mary Laine - she LOVES him!
An afternoon at Twin Rivers (our Rec Center).
Dinner at Giardinas
Cousins!
Talking to Daddy on the phone
So tired! It was hard to get her to wake up
