In whispers over the downy heads of sleeping babes, we pray prayers of thanks for the gift of babies and sleep.

On the couch late at night when our bigs are past curfew and not answering our texts we pray our Lord leads them safely to our door and that we do not kill them when they finally enter it. 

In the carpool line as we watch our kids walking into school weighted down by their backpacks and worry we ask God to protect them through their day.

Under our breath, as we face the rolling eyes and hands-on-hips of a teenager we pray this too shall pass.

By ourselves as we drive to work in the car, running through our worries for each baby, one by one, as we give these over to God.

When holding the sweaty hand of a sick little love, her head resting on our shoulder, we pray the worst will not happen and that healing will.

In the moments they are scaling high things, jumping off them, swimming in lakes and rivers and oceans, and doing any of the things we know help them spread their wings, we pray for their safety and that we can hide our fears from their eyes.

With our heads in our hands and littles at our feet, we pray to make it through the witching hour and that everyone will at least try our dinner.

At church when our kids cannot sit still in the pew and we start to sweat under the gaze of the folks behind us praying for the patience of others and that God sees our attempts.

In line at the DMV when we bring our excited teenager to their driving test we apologize to God for praying that they fail.

As we walk through Target we pray we make it through with our sanity (and budget) intact.

When they must finally leave our homes and the safety of our arms we pray for the strength to rejoice and see them off.

At the ballpark and at the theatre and in all the celebrations we pray prayers of thanks for these moments that lift us up. 

We pray in the seconds and in the minutes and in the spaces between carpool and homework, between teeth brushing and bath time, at 3:00am when the house is silent and 3:00pm walking through our work world. 

We pray for our babies, our families, ourselves, and the world we are leaving to our people.

I’ve spent less time on my knees since having these babies but I’ve never spent more time in prayer.

I pray a million times and a million ways that God will cover my children with His love and protection. I pray that they may know Him in their hearts.

I pray and I pray and I pray, 30 seconds at a time, over and over, and with all of my heart. And these stolen prayers may be the biggest gift I give my children. And the biggest gift God gives back to me.

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