A Prayer for My Child’s Friendships

Good Father, 

You see my child as she learns to navigate 

the fragile ecosystem of friendship.

You see the unseen pressures, 

the confusion, 

and the ache to fit in.

You see the temptations—

to mock what she actually loves,

to pretend she enjoys what she does not,

to minimize what matters,

to magnify what earns applause,

to trade honesty for belonging.

You know how quickly the approval of others 

can become a compass.

Kids rarely sprint away from themselves.

They drift, one tiny adjustment at a time.

So please, Lord,

give my child courage to choose truth 

even when it costs her social applause.

Fill her with strength to be 

compassionate without compromise.

Anchor her in your wisdom 

so she is always on course.

Root her deeply in your love 

so she knows she belongs wherever she goes.

And secure her in integrity so she remains 

herself no matter what’s trending.

Preserve the gentle friendships, 

the steady ones, the kind ones, 

especially if they are not popular. 

Let those friendships grow and flourish.

And when rejection does come, 

because of course it will, encourage her.

When she gets left out, hold her hand.

When she is misunderstood, steady her mind.

When she feels alone, remind her you are right there.

Keep her close to you, close to the truth, 

and close to the people who love her well.

Good Father, be her friend. 

Her closest friend.

Amen.

written by Cheree Hayes
produced by Dan Gummel

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

A Prayer for Cultivating Adult Friendships 

Father God,

Raising children can be a lonely job,

and I often find myself at the end of a long day

wishing I had more friends to lean on.

You created us to need each other, Lord,

yet here in America, we have worshiped 

individualism, ignoring our ingrained longing 

for connection. 

Forgive us, Father, 

for our foolish self-reliance. 

Help us find our way back to 

each other. 

Friends keep us grounded, 

make our marriages stronger, 

and give our kids support 

beyond what we alone can offer them. 

I know I am a better parent

when I have others to journey with. 

Even still, I confess to spending more time

cultivating my child's friendships 

than my own, neglecting the very

people you have put in my life. 

So Lord, in your wisdom and strength, 

would you help me deepen

the relationships I already have, 

reconnect with old friends,

and recognize opportunities

to make new ones? 

Help me be vulnerable in reaching out,

consistent in following through, 

and dependable for others to lean on.    

May I recognize the season I am in,

with healthy expectations for myself and others:

supporting my friends in love,

and asking for help when I need it. 

Forgive us, Father, 

for our foolish self-reliance. 

Help us find our way back to 

each other. 

May our dependence be a sign,

not of weakness, but of strength,

as all of us are better together 

than alone. 

Thank you, Lord, for the gift

of friendship. 

Amen. 

written by Alli Dahlgren
produced by Dan Gummel

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

A Prayer for Embodied Love in an Automated World 

Father God,

Our modern world can be overwhelming,

and we come to you today in need of 

your grounding presence. 

Our children are growing up with 

information overload, automated everything,

artificial intelligence threatening to dilute their

tender curiosity and imagination. 

As parents, it is hard to find the balance 

between protecting them from the chaos surrounding us,

and preparing them to one day live on their own. 

We don’t want to hide from culture,

nor embrace the latest advancement 

without discernment,

so we are here again, 

asking for your wisdom. 

We are not gods. 

We do not have the answers.

But you—our Creator and Sustainer—do. 

You created all of us to be an image of your heart,

your love, your grace. 

We remember this best through 

the person of Jesus: God made man, 

the story of redemption through flesh and blood:

embodied love. 

The smartest technology in the world 

will never have the capacity to love 

and be loved the way your image-bearers do.

Help us remember this when we are 

lured by the ease of machines. 

May we remember the simple comfort of 

a back scratch before bed,

a hug after a long day,

a hand to hold in a crowd. 

This irreplaceable human touch is itself 

an act of hope—

an incarnation of Christ's love, 

a resistance against the temptation to disconnect, 

and a healing balm for our weary souls. 

May we truly be present for our children, 

showing them that love is not just an abstract idea,

but the very essence of life, 

and a taste of your eternal kingdom to come. 

Amen. 

written by Alli Dahlgren
produced by Dan Gummel

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

A Prayer for When Your Teenager Doesn’t Talk to You 

Merciful God,

You know the details of my teenager’s day. 

You know who she ate lunch with and what jokes were told. 

You know what classes are hard,

and what teachers she likes and doesn’t like.

You know “the tea”, the cliques, 

who likes who, and who is a good friend. 

You know what was seen on the internet, 

what was sent in texts and shared in messages.

Help her to know that you see her, 

that you care about every moment, 

and that you are with her. 

Make me a trustworthy place for her 

to come when she has questions or problems, 

and help her to know I care and can be trusted 

with the vulnerable and fragile places in her heart.

Give me wisdom to know when to intervene 

and when to let her figure things out on her own. 

Help me learn what love looks like in this season 

so I can lean in and listen well.

Please grow my trust in your care for her 

when I am tempted to be controlling or overbearing. 

Give me humility to seek and hear feedback 

from her about how she experiences me. 

Help me confess my failures, seek restoration,

and repair when I have acted hurtfully.

Strengthen and protect our relationship 

so that in the years to come we can share joys and sorrows 

and walk together as a family that cares and supports 

one another appropriately for each season of life we will encounter.

Thank you that you haven’t left us on our own 

to figure out this complicated thing that is parenting, 

but you go before us as we trust 

in your wisdom and faithful guidance.

Amen.

written by Loraena Tuttle 

produced by Dan Gummel

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

A Prayer for Parents of Strong-willed Kids

Good Father, 

You have created our kids to be uniquely themselves, 

set them in this time and this place and in this family, 

and entrusted us to be their parents. 

Would you equip us with the patience, 

self-control, and grace we need

to love them well? 

Holy Spirit, would you breath through the conflicts, 

the frustrations, the moments of overwhelm 

when we don’t know what the next right move is. 

Give us your vision to see our children the way you do: 

help us see their stubbornness 

as the gift it will be in adulthood:

persistence, determination, 

and resolve to stand for what they believe in.

Help us see their independence 

as the confidence they will need

to navigate a world clouded with uncertainty. 

Help us see their intensity

as fuel for the passion 

they will need to be 

salt and light in a dark world. 

Forgive us, Father, when we fall short,

and strengthen us with your perspective,

your wisdom, your peace that 

transcends our understanding. 

In all things we give you thanks and praise,

Amen. 
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written by Alli Dahlgren
produced by Dan Gummel

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

A prayer for children living with anxiety 

Father God,

You created this child I love so much,

you knit them in the womb, 

you know the hairs on their head,

the dreams in their heart,

and the fears and thoughts in their mind.

Anxiety is a part of life,

but my child is struggling beyond what is typical, 

and we don’t know how to help. 

I want to make everything easier for them,

yet some days I feel like everything I try

only makes it worse. 

There are days I blame myself,

days I blame the world,

days I blame you. 

I know this is no one’s fault,

and an explanation would not 

make it easier to navigate. 

So I am not here asking for answers,

but I am asking for wisdom. 

James 1:5 says this:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, 

who gives generously to all without finding fault, 

and it will be given to you.

I am asking for your wisdom

to inform my choices and actions—

the way I respond and encourage them,

the words I use, or don’t. 

I am asking for your wisdom

to know when, where, and how 

to seek professional help.

I ask for trustworthy guides and

compassionate care for my child. 

Please Lord, cover them with your love and peace,

speak to them in the quiet corners of their mind, 

whisper your truth louder than the noise of the world,

clearer than the confusion and fear. 

I trust you with their life, with their heart,

with their soul. Pursue them, Lord—

let your compassion be evident to them,

your grace-filled arms what they sense 

holding them in their most anxious moments. 

Above all, I ask for this cloud 

to be taken away from them,

but even if it is not, 

I trust you. 

Thank you for the ways 

you are shaping our hearts

even now through this struggle. 

Amen. 

By Alli Dahlgren
produced by Dan Gummel

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

A prayer for not rushing through bedtime 

Lord of true rest,

Father of endless patience,

Spirit of perfect peace,

I ask for your strength to flow 

through my fatigue.

Here at the end of a long day,

all I want to do is collapse on a couch 

and have a minute to myself,

yet my child is yearning for connection,

reaching for my love in these 

tender moments before bed. 

So before I even dim the lights 

and open Goodnight Moon,

would you soften my heart with 

your eternal perspective? 

I don’t want to miss these moments.

I don’t want to rush through 

what I know I will reminisce about when 

they are older: 

Their soft hair under my chin,

their full weight against my side,

innocent joy in hearing a favorite story,

and their sweet, melodic voice

joining in a bedtime prayer. 

I am full of gratitude, Father, 

for each opportunity I have

to hug this child goodnight—

I only wish I had more margin 

to fully appreciate it. 

Desiring rest is not selfish, 

and I know you want that for me as well,

so help me give thanks in all circumstances,

knowing that if rest does not come 

in the way I imagine it,

It will come through your power

and in your time. 

This desire is pointing me toward 

a longing for your eternal rest,

and a day when we won’t feel fatigue 

or stress, pain or fear—

when the yearnings in my child,

and the yearnings in me, 

are all met in your new creation. 

For now…

we say good morning,

we say goodnight, 

we say thank you for these 

tender days. 

Amen. 

By Alli Dahlgren
produced by Dan Gummel

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

For When They Don't Make The Team

Find us and more free resources at: 
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For Transition Weeks.

Steadfast God,

This week, as our family takes some time to 

settle into a new seasonal rhythm  

I open my hands and ask for your grace. 

We need your grace to prevail 

over stress and fatigue, over the 

jolt of shifting from one season to another. 

There is so much I can’t control as a parent,

so much I can’t anticipate or plan for,

and just as I tell my kids: the only thing

I can control is how I respond. 

Yet, in times of change I often become 

a child myself, complaining and grumbling 

and setting a terrible example for my kids. 

Forgive me, Lord. 

Help me love my family well this week,

holding routines and expectations loosely 

as I adjust to what this fall holds for us. 

Take a moment to pray for the specific cares and needs of your family. 

You, Father, are our anchor and our home,

our source of love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, and self-control. 

May we lean on you for all that our family needs. 

Amen. 

Written by Alli Dalhgren
produced by Dan Gummel
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Find us and more free resources at: 
www.gracebased.com

For When Your Vacation Was Not a Vacation

Lord God,

Thank you for the time away 

from our usual lives to do 

something different as a family. 

There was laughter, there was joy,

and many memories made. 

Yet, for the adults involved,

there was little to no relaxation,

and we are returning home 

more tired than when we left! 

So, Lord, before we sort the laundry 

and put our souvenirs on a shelf,

I want to pause and reflect 

on the togetherness we shared,

the bonds we deepened,

the beautiful moments, 

the crazy moments—

the silliness and sacredness 

of vacations with children. 

(pause here and take a moment to reflect)

Spirit of God, I need you, as I head

back into a typical week,

a bit bedraggled and worn. 

On my own, I grumble

but in you I find patience. 

On my own, I am reactive

but in you I find wisdom.

On my own, I am weak

but in you I am strong. 

Thank you, Father, for this kind of 

fatigue, this kind of mess. 

I am tired because my life 

is full of people to love, 

and this is always a gift. 

Amen. 

Written by Alli Dalhgren. 
Produced by Dan Gummel

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

A Prayer for Teaching Them to Drive 

When I was a new parent,

the thought of my child behind the wheel 

was an abstract idea—

something I would deal with when the time came,

when the years were more behind me 

than ahead of me.

It seemed so far away. 

Now I am becoming another cliché—

wondering where the years went,

sweating these teenage milestones and 

wishing time would slow down. 

I need you, Lord, every hour I need you! 

I see her sitting in the driver's seat, 

and just like a sentimental commercial,

I suddenly remember her baby teeth smile,

her legs too short to dangle over the seat, 

let alone touch the pedals. 

I find myself whispering anxious prayers to you:

Father, keep her safe. 

Help her make wise choices.

Protect her, protect her, protect her. 

I need you, Lord, every hour I need you! 

I remember the days when my worries 

included electrical sockets, corners of coffee tables,

feeding her sugar too soon. 

Now my time of protecting her has changed,

and my job is to prepare her. 

To help her thrive in a world of unpredictable

circumstances and imperfect people. 

I ask, Father, for our driving sessions

to include more moments of bonding 

than moments of tension. 

I ask for your patience and wisdom to lead me

as I teach this child something that will

undoubtedly take her farther away from me. 

May my heart be open, may her heart be brave.

May we enter this next phase with grace for each other

and for all of our feelings and fears.

Thank you for this teenager. 

Thank you for her desire to spread her wings

and fly just like she was made to do. 

We need you, Lord, 

every hour, 

we need you.

Amen. 

Written by: Alli Dalghren
produced by: Dan Gummel 

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

Praying Through Sibling Conflict Without Taking Sides 

Good Father, 

Thank you for my children. 

Thank you that they get to grow up together, 

close in age, sharing the same story, 

the same home, and the same family. 

There is so much potential here for friendship.

But right now, there is conflict.

They provoke each other. In the sighs, 

stiff hugs, and slammed doors, we all feel it. 

They struggle to see each other’s perspective. 

Their weaknesses collide, 

and even their strengths cut against one another. 

What could bring balance now creates pressure. 

What could build them up produces friction, sparks, and strain.

So I ask you to redeem that friction.

Like iron sharpening iron, form them through these tensions. 

Where there is pressure, bring refinement. 

Where there are sparks, bring warmth instead of harm.

Their minds are still forming, and this season is tender. 

Guard their hearts and steady their thoughts. 

Teach them to practice love here... 

Real 1 Corinthians 13* love:

Make them patient and kind with each other. 

Shut down comparison, pride, harsh words, eye rolls, 

and contempt before they take root. 

Teach them not to insist on their own way. 

Help them really listen and try to understand. 

When things break, lead them back to repair. 

Give them the courage to say what they need clearly. 

Keep them from being easily angered. Slow them down. 

Don’t let them hold onto hurts or replay them. 

Turn them toward what is good and true. 

Teach them to keep showing up for each other, 

to trust, to hope, and not give up.

Build in them a love that stays and endures. 

And Lord, work in me too.

Give me hope beyond my own experience of sibling rivalry. 

Help me see a future where they are friends in adulthood, 

shaped into better spouses, partners, and friends 

because of the love they learned in our home.

I can feel myself leaning toward one child over the other. 

My personality pulls me toward the one who responds more like I do, 

making it easy to agree with one and overlook the other. 

I yield that tendency to you. Teach me to see clearly and listen without bias. 

Help me hold space for both of them with steadiness and compassion.

Give me wisdom to guide them toward repair 

with justice, mercy, and love, without favoritism. 

Grow me alongside them, so that in this home, 

conflict becomes a place where love is practiced again and again.

Amen.

*1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Author: Cheree Hayes 

produced by: Dan Gummel 

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

A Mid-Summer Prayer for Tired Parents 

Heavenly Father,

At this point in the summer,

I admit, Lord, my patience is thin. 

I want to enjoy these routine-free days, 

but I often come to resent them. 

There are more dishes in the sink 

than I have podcasts to listen to.

More boredom and bickering,

messes and meltdowns,

and resorting to screentime 

than I would like to admit. 

Would you breathe your peace 

into our long days, Lord? 

When the chore chart goes out the window,

and the 2nd-grade summer worksheets go unused,

help me reach for grace instead of perfection,

for relationships over best-laid plans. 

Help me focus on what matters, Lord,

seeing our unstructured time as 

opportunities for connection and growth 

rather than space for me to control. 

Help me truly see my children, listening well

to their questions and ponderings,

and in their curiosity, may I see you, Father, 

shaping their tender hearts.

Help me meet my children where they are at,

rather than the other way around. 

Keep my fatigue and adult cares 

from getting in the way of their joy. 

I ask Lord, for the strength to 

guide them well through this 

never-again-summer they are 

tumbling through. 

Thank you for each of these days,

for each of these children. 

We depend on you, God, 

for all that we need. 

Amen.

Produced by: Dan Gummel
Written By: Alli Dalghren

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

A Prayer For A Family Road Trip 

Lord of every language and landscape,

pilot of this vast and wonderful planet,

be our provision today as we set off on an adventure.

Leaving home for any length of time 

is an opportunity to shake up our routines 

and release the excess worries that stick to us like webs,

so that in our letting go,

we might become more free.

(you are invited to read this next section with palms turned upward)

May we begin this day with open hands, 

holding our plans loosely, 

since we know that some of life's best adventures 

unfold unexpectedly,

with memorable moments 

appearing all along the way 

to and from our destinations.

May we be quick to apologize and quick to forgive,

so that any rift or tension we encounter 

while traveling might become a shortcut 

to humility, curiosity, and growth.

Remind us with fresh eyes Lord: 

you are God of the rivers our roads swerve next to,

God of the stars sparkling between city lights,

you are seen in every strangers face,

heard in our laughter, our stories, our songs.

From dewy morning fog to dark shivering night, 

busy urban streets to dusty country roads, 

you are with us and surround us wherever we go.

May we sense your presence as we adventure,

and return from our travels softer and stronger,

with hearts full of gratitude

for the journey and the people 

we journeyed with,

for the opportunity to experience new things,

and for the great gift 

of returning home.

Amen 

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Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
produced by: Dan Gummel
music by: blue.sessions

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

A Prayer For A Lemonade Stand 

Lord God,

Thank you for the way your abundance

reveals itself every summer.

Fruit ripens, flowers bloom,

and children run barefoot 

down sidewalks and through fields,

dreaming and scheming and 

practically glowing with delight. 

What a gift to behold a childhood summer!

Lord, thank you that worldly awareness happens gradually,

and even children who go through terribly 

hard things seem to have an ability 

to hold joy and wonder alongside grief—

a life skill we struggle to remember as adults. 

Thank you that in the midst of such 

a broken and complicated world, our children 

write down “lemonade stand” at the top

of their summer bucket list, reminding us 

to take a deep breath and enjoy the small things.

The adult in me sees potential for disappointment, 

and I’m tempted to edit their ideas to shape the outcome.

So Father, help me instead see this as a safe

opportunity for them to learn things like

teamwork, stewardship, kindness to strangers,

and yes, even math.

Even if they only make five dollars, 

and even if they feel defeated at the end of the day,

this is a healthy way for them to fail or succeed,

to experiment and learn, to practice being older

than they are. 

I ask, Lord, for kind people to visit, 

for cars to notice their handwritten sign 

and turn around for a cup. 

I ask for the sun to shine down on this little venture,

for my children to experience the pride 

of putting in the work and following through. 

What a gift, these summer days! 

Thank you, Father, thank you. 

Amen.

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Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
Produced by: Dan Gummel
music by: blue.sessions

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

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A Prayer For Your Child's First Overnight Camp   

Father God,

You give us so much freedom 

to explore your created earth,

and who you have made each of us

to be within it. 

I pray that this week feels like that for my child. 

Though they are excited to go to camp, 

they are also nervous—

anxious about leaving their safe spaces

and home comforts. 

And I am anxious about letting them.

I have so many worries

about things I have absolutely no control over.

I cannot go along with them to make sure

everything is okay, but you can, Father,

you can. 

So I bring all my worries to you today,

trusting you with each one. 

Pause and take a moment to prayerfully list your specific worries for your child. Open your hands and imagine letting go of each worry as it comes to you. 

Lord, I know your love for my child is vast,

and I ask for this to be evident to them—

through caring and understanding counselors,

new friendships full of laughter 

and a sense of belonging. 

Speak to them in the 

star-filled skies and quiet mornings,

in the absence of screens and school,

with the space to simply be. 

This is also a chance for me to remember

my own sense of self apart from

being their parent, so I ask for your 

presence to surround me with 

peace as I trust in you. 

May we all reunite after this time apart

grateful for your love and 

for each other. 

Amen.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren
Produced by: Dan Gummel. 
Music: Blue.sessions. 

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

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

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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

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

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. 

-------------------------

written by Alli R. Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel 

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com

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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 

----------------

written by Alli R. Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel 

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com

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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

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

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A prayer for parental regret 

Merciful God,

Certain phases of parenting have come and gone,

and though I know regret is a waste of time,

there are things I wish I’d done differently.

Words I should or shouldn’t have said,

choices I’d like to redo, 

help I wish I’d asked for,

wise advice unheeded, 

anger untempered,

frustration and fatigue 

I wish I’d handled with more maturity.

Lord, I take a deep breath in your presence,

acknowledging that all my regrets are in the past,

and what is here now is your love and forgiveness. 

(pause and take some deep breaths) 

Cultivate in me the humility of an apprentice,

so that every regret would feed the soil

where patience, empathy, and wisdom grow. 

May I be quick to apologize, change course,

or take that extra step in love when I feel like giving up.

And may every mistake I am yet to make

soften my heart and deepen my dependence 

on your grace. 

Thank you that your mercies are new every morning,

your faithfulness revealed in our weakness.

And through it all, help me parent 

with this same approach—

grace upon grace upon grace. 

Amen.

---------------
Alli R. Dahlgren 

find us and more resources at: 
www.gracebased.com

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

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A Prayer for When Their Friends Don't Understand.

Loving Father, 

My child is going through something 

none of their friends understand,

and they are feeling alone. 

I know this kind of loneliness 

is part of being human. 

Sometimes it’s for simple reasons

like an interest no one we know shares.

Other times it’s more complex:

a disease or diagnosis, a family struggle, 

a mental health challenge, a loss.

Regardless of today’s reason,

my child is hurting,

so I hurt too. 

I want to yell at the world to be kinder.

I want to correct each misguided comment

and protect their heart from the 

pain of being misunderstood.

Yet I know the only thing I can control

is the way I show up for them in this ache,

so I ask for the energy and insight 

to support them well.

May our home be a soft landing place 

for their body and spirit to rest and recharge—

to be held and seen and loved unconditionally.

Father, you understand them

better than they understand themselves,

so I ask for your nearness

to be revealed in their lonely moments,

comforting them with the knowledge

that they are beloved. 

Help us all remember that the reason

we long to be known in the first place 

is because we are made for relationship—

made to reach for you, our Creator. 

So I pray that this experience leads my child 

to your loving arms, to your eternal belonging,

your unflinching embrace. 

Amen.

written by:
Alli R. Dahlgren

Find us and free resources: 
www.gracebased.com

In Praise of Mud and the Freedom of Childhood:

Father God,

Spring is a season of color, 

new life, and mud. Lots of mud. 

There's a reason many family homes 

include a room named after this fact!

I am not a farmer or homesteader, 

yet you wouldn’t know it

by looking at our laundry pile.

Rather than being frustrated 

by the perpetual mess, 

I praise you today, Lord,

for the vitality and spirit 

of young children.

I praise you for the way they

splash in puddles, dig in dirt, 

and stain every pair of pants 

with schoolyard grass: 

evidence of youth, 

of play, 

of freedom.

May I never take for granted

the safe spaces my children have 

to be young and carefree. 

I take a moment and ask 

for your mercy to fall

on every child around the world 

growing up in areas of unrest—

where this type of play is not 

safe or possible.

Lord, have mercy. 

Every time I am tempted

to wish the mess away, let it be 

a reminder of the many gifts

my children enjoy, 

and may I savor this season 

of young childhood 

while it lasts.

Amen. 

-------------
written by Alli Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel 

music by blue.sessions

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A Prayer for Nurturing Our Kids Uniqueness.

Creator God,

Each child is born

with such a unique fingerprint.

From the time they first

hold up their heads

to the day they choose

senior-year classes,

we notice their specific 

strengths, weaknesses,

and delightful quirks—

and love watching them 

become the people 

you made them to be. 

We praise you, Father, 

for revealing unique

aspects of your nature

through so many different 

kinds of people! 

Help us be our children's

biggest cheerleaders,

fanning the flame of their 

early passions and dreams,

and helping them learn 

the skills they will need to 

achieve their goals.

As their young minds imagine

what their adult lives will look like,

help us refrain from squashing 

anything that seems unrealistic 

or difficult.

The world is hard enough

on those daring to dream big,

and we want our home to be 

a haven from any harsh critique.

Keep us from projecting our own 

ambitions or expectations onto them,

even when their interests and talents

are foreign to us.

Help us instead teach them

to value hard work and humility,

so that regardless of their life path, 

they will be the kind of people

this world needs more of. 

In every stage of their becoming,

I thank you, Lord, for the gift 

of being their parent.

Amen. 

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FAMILY CONNECTION MOMENT

If your children have interests that are different from yours, ask questions about what they are passionate about and truly listen when they let you into their world. This will build trust between you and will mean so much to them!

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written by Alli Dalghren
produced by Dan Gummel 
music by blue.sessions

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A Prayer for Times of Doubt.

Faithful God,

Doubt is a healthy part of 

every faith journey, 

I know that.

And whether it is a 

“dark night of the soul”,

as many faithful Christians

have experienced,

or a temporary cloudiness 

characterized by dull hope

and faded fire—

I long to feel moved 

by your truth and beauty 

once again.

I pray with my children,

but my words feel hollow,

and I struggle to answer 

the questions they ask 

about God and life. 

Help me remember that

what they need more than answers

is my love and presence—

open arms and a humble heart. 

So Lord, even when my 

heart feels confused or distant,

would you keep me from closing off 

to my family, or to you? 

As we celebrate resurrection 

this upcoming Easter, help me

lean in close to those I love,

allowing their faith to carry me

when mine is frail. 

Alli R. Dahlgren

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