YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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A Prayer For Flying With Littles

Father God,

Parenting small children comes with

its share of absurdities,

and airplane travel with littles is

certainly a recipe for chaos!

Lord, I am going to need your help

to keep from losing my cool

somewhere on a moving walkway

in middle America.

Before we even leave for the airport, Lord,

would you fill us with patience and peace?

Would you help us be open-minded and adaptable?

When someone has a bathroom emergency,

or spills their airplane beverage down their only shirt,

when I am forced to hold the oversized stuffed animal

they promised they would carry,

when someone is lagging behind and I’m worried

we will miss family boarding,

when the sweets that kept them entertained

cause a meltdown an hour later,

when a stranger comments (yet again)

that I have my hands full,

help me laugh at the absurdity of it all

and remember that this day, and this phase,

will not last forever.

One day I will look back fondly

on the ridiculous outfits my kids chose to wear,

the silly and ill-timed comments,

the adorable lack of awareness,

the tiny hand holding mine in a crowd.

It is a gift, after all, to be carrying

the common stressors of needy babies

and trinket-laden toddlers.

So help us reject the frantic hurry

that often characterizes travel days,

and stay open to the gifts of

the journey itself.

May we laugh often and breathe deeply

the joys of simply being together,

wherever we find ourselves.

Amen.

FAMILY CONNECTION MOMENT

There is no denying how helpful screens can be during a long travel day! Download some new puzzle or game apps that you can do with your kids on the plane. Let screens be a point of connection, rather than just a way for everyone to zone out.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
Produced by: Dan Gummel

Find us and more free resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer For When Their Faith Looks Different Than Expected

Lord, I remember when my son prayed to you.

He closed his eyes, lifted his face,

and spoke with his whole heart.

Now I see him distracted, restless,

reaching for anything that keeps him from being still.

He no longer seems to know you as he once did.

His desires pull him in other directions.

Still, I know his faith is present.

He cannot shake the truth of the resurrection

or forget the ways you have met him,

answered him, and held him in love.

Even now, something in him keeps reaching back to you.

So meet him where he is, God.

Meet him in the ache, in the confusion,

and in the places he avoids.

Come close with real presence and understanding.

Help him feel your heart of grace looking at him, finding him…

Where anger rises,

listen and meet him with justice and mercy.

Where questions linger,

speak to the deeper need behind them.

Where doubt clouds his vision,

keep him grounded and help him see what’s true.

You are faithful in every season,

in our devotion and in our wandering.

So be everything that you are and

let your goodness and mercy

follow my son all the days of his life.

I trust him to your care.

Help me remain patient and mirror your grace.

Form in me a steady love that reflects your own.

Amen.

Author - Cheree Hayes

produced by Dan Gummel
music by blue.sessions

Find us and more free resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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A Prayer For a New Puppy

Father God,

You have given us a world with countless creatures.

What a joy (and what a mess!)

to care for some of them in our homes.

Thank you, Father, for allowing our family

the resources to take on a new puppy.

Scripture tells us you delight

over us and long to give us good gifts,

and I feel the same way watching

my children's faces light up

over this new addition.

I know that dogs are not a replacement

for human friendships,

but I can’t deny the mysterious way they

befriend us, especially on lonely days.

So I ask, Lord, for you to gift my kids

this kind of connection—

for the uncomplicated love of this dog to

bring them a sense of companionship

throughout their childhood.

May this pet also be a way for them

to grow in responsibility,

serving our family

and another of your creatures, Lord,

with care.

And on the days when this puppy

feels more stress-ful than stress-relieving,

and thoughts of regret or disdain cross my mind

(which they almost certainly will at some point),

would you remind me of the simple

joy this animal has brought my children,

and give me the patience to

do the hard work of caring for them.

Thank you, God, that in a world desperate for peace,

you give us small comforts in the form of silly, adorable puppies.

Amen.

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written by Alli R. Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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For Working Moms Heading Into Summer

Lord God,

Being a working mother is uniquely complicated,

and summertime often brings

some internal struggles freshly to the surface.

There are pressures and expectations

coming from every direction,

and I find myself feeling unsure about my choices,

my motivations, my enoughness.

Lord, I need your grace to remember:

my identity is not in my work

or my parenting,

but in You.

Thank you for this truth.

If these feelings are pointing me

to a different way of working or resting,

please give me wisdom and

an openness to hear your voice.

If these feelings are just part of my journey,

a path to a stronger faith

and a softer heart,

walk with me in it, Father.

Give me peace.

May the days my children spend

apart from me this summer

include new experiences that grow

their understanding of others

and their faith in you, Lord.

Give them open spaces to spread their wings,

safe ways to practice independence,

and an innate knowledge of my love for them.

May the time we spend as a family

be full of joy, laughter, and new memories,

and help me be fully present to those moments.

When I feel envious of someone

else's circumstances, bring me quickly back

to a place of gratitude and perspective,

resting in your guidance and grace.

Thank you, Father, for the gifts you’ve given me

and the ways I get to serve others

and support my family.

Lead me, Lord, as I trust in you.

Amen.

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written by Alli R. Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer for Healthy Self Care

Father God,

Being an attentive parent

requires a level of selflessness

that does not come naturally.

This can be beautifully refining,

molding us in humility,

and bringing us closer

to your heart.

But sometimes, Lord,

in the barrage of needs,

I lose sight of my own belovedness.

I start to believe the lie that to love

my children well means being unkind

to myself.

I need your wisdom, Father,

to find a healthy harmony between

selfless love and self-care.

Jesus, remind me of the example

you set when you walked on earth.

You took naps, you retreated from crowds,

you accepted the limits of your humanity,

and trusted the Father in those limitations.

May I do the same.

Help me care for my soul

in ways that are truly life-giving

rather than indulgent.

Show me how to sabbath, Lord.

Help me stop long enough to breathe in

your goodness, listen to your truth,

and recognize again my dependence

on your provision.

May my children grow to see me as

more than “Mom” or “Dad,”

but as an individual whose life orbits

around your love, God, rather than their needs.

I want my kids to grow into healthy adults,

so help me model what that looks like.

I will never do this perfectly, Lord,

but I ask for your Spirit to guide and sustain me

as I grow toward wholeness,

leaning always on your

grace and truth.

Amen

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written by Alli R. Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A prayer for a child closing out a milestone school year

Good Father,

A day I once saw as far off is here—

another chapter’s end,

another milestone reached.

I adore this child you’ve entrusted to me,

and I stand here today in awe of the

bright young person they are becoming.

Surround them, Lord,

as this school year comes to a close,

so that in the jumble of emotions and memories,

what stands out for them most

is a sense of being held.

This next year will bring

new experiences and new anxieties,

but those are for tomorrow.

Today, let us celebrate well,

honoring the many ways they have grown.

May they stand tall with pride,

remembering challenges they’ve overcome,

lessons they’ve learned,

character and maturity they’ve gained.

May they also stand humbly,

grateful for the people who have taught them,

the friends who have supported them,

the gifts they have been given.

May their body, mind, and spirit

be strengthened from within as they recognize

the gratification of working toward a goal,

sticking with it on hard days,

and crossing the finish line.

I give thanks to you, God,

the Author of our stories,

the Giver of good gifts,

the Spirit who is with my child today

and who will be with them

in all their tomorrows.

Amen.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren

Family Connection Moment

Whether this year marks the end of kindergarten or college, take some time to celebrate with your family. Celebration cultivates joy, gratitude, and trust in the goodness of God who has provided and will continue to provide. Let your kids know how proud of them you are with a special note, gift, or time together.

find us:
www.gracebased.com

A prayer for when your child is pulling away from you

Lord, I remember holding them in my arms,

nurturing them, feeding them, caring for their every need.

We were so close, our lives woven together,

constant and uninterrupted.

As they grew, our attachment changed.

They became their own person,

and we learned new ways of relating.

It felt good at first…

But now I feel the distance,

and I do not know what to do.

I feel uncertain and wonder if I have done something wrong.

You see both of us clearly.

You know what is in their heart, even what I cannot see.

If they need space or are just working through something

I do not understand, help me respond with wisdom.

Teach me to be patient.

Keep me from grasping for control out of fear.

Show me how to love them in this season

with a presence that is steady, gentle, and safe.

Give me wisdom to know when to reach out and when to be still.

If there is anything I need to repair, make it clear to me.

I need a heart that listens without defensiveness.

Shape our relationship into something mature and life-giving,

not what it used to be, but what it is meant to be.

A relationship marked by trust, respect, and genuine love.

Hold them as they grow, and hold me as I learn to let them.

Amen.

Author- Cheree Hayes

FAMILY CONNECTION MOMENT

Schedule some one-on-one time with your child just to have fun and be together. After school walk? Post sports practice ice cream? Quality time doing something they really enjoy? Small moments together can make a big impact as kids grow.

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find us:
gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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For parents who could use some “thank yous”

Dear Parent,

Raising children is truly Kingdom work, and it is far from easy. So today we send some “thank yous” your way in an effort to remind you of the God who sees you, knows you, and loves you, and who has been with you every step of this (often thankless) parenting journey.

Thank you for saying yes to the life of another,

for surrendering parts of your own story

and embracing sacrificial love.

Thank you for the time, energy, and resources

you have poured out for a child who,

at the start, had nothing to offer you in return.

Thank you for opening your heart to the

devastating love of becoming a parent.

Thank you for waking up at 5 a.m. to warm the bottle,

rock the baby, stir the oatmeal, and entertain the toddler.

Thank you for cleaning up all the messes—

for sweeping and wiping and washing your hands raw

from the bodily fluids, sand and dirt,

paint and glue, peanut butter and avocados.

Thank you for preparing all the meals,

for scheduling all the appointments,

for thinking ahead to the next season’s needs,

for buying new shoes and clothes (and often

neglecting your own worn-out wardrobe),

for taking care of sick kids even when you

have also gotten the flu and could use some

TLC yourself.

Thank you for managing the endless carousel

of dishes and laundry, changing the sheets and sorting the socks.

Thank you for rescuing those tiny Lego pieces

from under the couch, for walking the dog they begged you for,

for stocking the pantry with each child's favorite snacks,

for making holidays feel special and staying up late to

bake a cake, clean the kitchen, wrap the presents.

Thank you for putting your own wants on hold,

for saying “no” to that job opportunity because

it meant missing an important dance recital.

And… thank you for saying “yes” to that other

job opportunity because it meant paying

some bills and modeling the value of hard work.

Thank you for ignoring the cultural pressures

that prize appearances, wealth, and quick fixes—

for listening to the voice of wisdom instead,

valuing the eternal over the temporary,

the heart of the child over mindless obedience.

Thank you for shepherding the natural stubbornness

of an adolescent when they think they know it all,

for giving them space to grow

even when it breaks your heart.

Thank you for honoring their “aha” moments

without pointing out… this is exactly what

I’ve been trying to tell you for months.

Through every season of parenting,

thank you for the grace you’ve given them,

the grace you’ve given yourself,

and the way you believe and trust that

Jesus is enough.

He sees you, he knows you, he loves you.

Family Connection Moment

Consider an appreciation circle during a family dinner. Ask everyone to call out things they have recently appreciated about others, not to ask for applause or pats on the back, but to cultivate gratitude in all of you.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren

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Find us:
www.gracebased.com