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. 

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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

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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

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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

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 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

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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. 

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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

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A Prayer for Waking in the Night.

Gentle Father,

I have prayed to you between so 

many midnights and mornings,

reaching for your company,

asking for your help.

I have awoken to 

crying babies, sick children,

nightmares, accidents,

and monsters under the bed.

I have awoken to 

fire alarms beeping for batteries, 

rain drumming on windows—

and loudest of all perhaps:

to the sound of my own 

thoughts and fears. 

Did you ever wake in the night, Jesus? 

Did you ever find your mind treading water,

your heart struggling to settle,

your worries and questions

rising to the surface? 

Be near to me, Lord Christ,

in this sleepless hour. 

When I awake to help a child,

may I have the patience and compassion 

to love selflessly, even when every cell 

in my body is screaming for sleep. 

When I awake in a river of ruminations, 

may I bring my thoughts and fears to you in prayer, 

trusting that even in this quiet darkness,

you are with me, and with my family.

No matter the reason, here I am, Lord, 

awake and reaching for you again,

listening for what you want 

to teach me in the night.

May my heart be open,

even now, to your gentle love.

Amen.

Connection Moment: 

Is there a song or hymn that calms you or your children? Next time you are up in the night with a child, try finding a song you can sing together to disarm fear, calm the nervous system, or simply lull back to sleep. Sometimes songs you would never think of as lullabies can do the trick! 

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Written by Alli Dalghren
Produced by Dan Gummel 
music by blue.sessions. 

Get more free resources at:  www.gracebased.com

A Prayer For When Parents Are Not on the Same Page.

God of Peace,

Raising children together 

is a partnership filled with immense joy

and complicated struggles. 

At times our opinions, methods,

and preferences feel too far apart

to find common ground. 

We confess God: 

sometimes our selfish hearts care

more about being right

than about being loving. 

Sometimes, in heated moments,

we say hurtful things 

we don’t  mean.

Forgive us, Lord. 

Would you soften our hearts toward each other?

Would you give us insight into the other's point of view?

May we remember that our children

are watching—absorbing our tension,

and witnessing our humility and forgiveness,

as well as our bitterness and pride.

We need your help

to love each other through

the petty disagreements,

as well as the fractures 

that feel harder to repair.

In your mercy, Lord, may each 

“I’m sorry” become a doorway 

into a deeper love and respect 

for each other, and an example 

of grace for our kids. 

Help us find a way toward true partnership

so that our home might be a place 

characterized by the fruit of your Spirit: 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. 

Amen. 

Family Connection Moment: 

Consider what repair looks like in your family relationships. How do you as parents model apologies? If you find yourselves consistently disagreeing, take time to prioritize connection. If your marriage feels truly fractured, seek professional help. Investing in your marriage is a vital part of grace-filled parenting. 

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Find Us and More Free Resources"
www.gracebased.com

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A Prayer for Catastrophizing.

Faithful God,

My mind constantly swirls with “what ifs,”

especially when it comes to my kids.

I imagine the worst.

I create narratives in my head

of unlikely scenarios,

as if by my anticipating worry,

I can stop the worst from happening.

But what if the worst never happens…

and I’ve wasted all this time and energy

being worried? 

Jesus, I think of your words:

“Can any one of you by worrying 

add a single hour to your life?”*

I know you speak truth, Lord, 

so I release my worries to you today—

from the small justifiable concerns,

to the extreme catastrophes 

I imagine in my mind—

I let them go.

(pause here to take a deep breath and if you’d like, 

imagine letting go of each specific worry as it comes to you.)

Father, who loves my kids more than I do,

who created them in the womb,

and numbers the hairs on their heads,

forgive me for my lack of trust. 

Remind me of your promise:

you will never leave us

and never forsake us. 

No matter what comes,

we are held in your hands. 

My kids are held in your hands. 

Continue to bring me back to this place, Lord,

where I release my worries to you

and hold on to your promises instead. 

Amen. 

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren

Family Connection Moment: During a bedtime goodnight, or a dinner table conversation, confess to your family that worry sometimes gets the better of you. Kids have worries too, and it helps to normalize this. Read them Jesus’ words from *Matthew 6:27 and see if that sparks thoughts, questions, or encouragements. 
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Find Us: 
www.gracebased.com

A Prayer For When My Child Receives A Diagnosis.

Good Father,

I never expected to walk this road.
Hearing the word “diagnosis” feels heavy.
It changes things in ways I do not yet understand.

There are appointments to schedule,
new words to learn,
specialists to meet,
and a whole new world of information
I never thought I would need to know.

Sometimes it all feels like too much.
I feel scared and overwhelmed. 
The story I imagined for my child?
Suddenly, it all looks so different.

Help me remember that you are still the Author,
and you never lose the pen.
Write the next chapters of this story
with mercy and power,
completing in us what you have started.

Of course, we pray for miraculous healing,
because we know you can,
and we know you have before.
So we ask for healing, Lord.

But if you have us walk through this valley,
we trust that you will walk with us.

Help us sense your nearness in every appointment,
every treatment, and every uncertain night.
Open doors for resources, finances, and care.
Give us wisdom in every decision
and surround us with love and support. 

Remind us to rest in your presence,
So you can produce the fruit of your Spirit in us.
We trust you will grow in us the fruit of longsuffering,
But we pray that we will also experience, in equal measure,
the powerful fruit of joy and peace.

Amen.

Author: Cheree Hayes

Family Connection Moment:

Now that appointments are part of your family’s life, invite your community to help create something joyful. Start a silly hat or t-shirt collection that is bright, funny, or full of character. During each appointment, you and your child can choose one to wear, bringing color and laughter into the waiting room and a new topic of conversation beyond the diagnosis.

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find us: 
www.gracebased.com

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A Prayer For A Sick Day.
 

Creator God,

You are the one who 

knit this child into being—

fashioning cells and tissue 

to form this one of a kind person

I have the honor of parenting.

While their body battles internally 

through a miraculous web 

we call the immune system,

may I have the patience and compassion

to care for them well.

Rather than seeing this as an inconvenience, 

help me see it as an opportunity 

to remind them

how much they are loved. 

Help us accept the change of plans 

and missed events with grace,

and give us eyes to see tender moments 

when they arise. 

I can’t make antibodies, but I can make soup.

I can’t heal, but I can comfort. 

Slow us down to appreciate the power 

of simple gifts: sleep, fluids, clean sheets.

Thank you for the gift of medical professionals.

Help me discern when to 

enlist their expertise,

and when to let time and rest 

do their work.

May this child heal fully,

stronger than before and more equipped 

to handle the next wave of sickness

which will inevitably come.

We look forward to the New Creation, 

when there will be no sickness or disease 

and our bodies will all be made new. 

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren

Amen

Family connection moment: Take this opportunity to read some chapter books aloud with your younger child. For your older kids, pull out some of their favorite picture books from when they were little and enjoy revisiting them together.

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Find us and more free resources 
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Steadfast God,

I need your fatherly care in these days of change,

for myself and for my children.

Their changes are expansive and reaching,

like load bearing walls being built 

on the foundation of who they are becoming.

My changes are subtle and disorienting,

like giving away clothes I no longer need,

growing in humility more than stature. 

This dual stretching 

can sometimes feel exhausting,

and I lack the strength I need 

to guide my children well. 

So again I find myself at your feet, Lord,

asking for your wisdom, asking for your strength.

Be the shepherd of our lives

through these parallel seasons of growth.

May we be a family characterized by love and grace 

in a volatile and frenetic culture.

We need your gentle wisdom

To anchor our home, 

To anchor our hearts.

When everything around and within us 

swirls and shakes,

You, Lord, are steadfast and faithful. 

Our unchanging Father,

trustworthy and wise in all you do. 

Amen.

Family Connection Moment: Find a scripture that resonates with your family’s season and display it on the fridge, share it in a group text, or read it aloud as a family. Some suggestions include Psalm 46 and 139.

Find Us: 
www.gracebased.com

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A Prayer for Contentment

God of Good Gifts,

Today, when my heart wanders to thoughts of more,

return my gaze to the beauty of what I already have.

Remind me of a time when I longed

to be a parent. 

So much about today is yesterday's dream,

and tomorrow is out of my hands.

So, God of every good thing,

help me live today fully present to 

the breath of a baby

the giggle of a toddler

the wide eyes of a growing child

and the beautiful ache of an adolescent.

When my thoughts swirl around

that vacation we can’t afford,

the perfectly organized house we won’t attain,

or that family who seems to have it all…

may I remember what a waste of time it is 

to covet my neighbor, 

and forgive me when I do. 

May this day be full of little joys

in the shape of cracker crumbs 

and mis-matched socks,

good morning hugs 

and late-night snuggles. 

Lord, help me realize

that much of what I want 

is what I already have.

Fill my heart with gratitude 

and help me trust you 

with my longings and hopes,

so I may fully rest into the gifts of today. 

Amen.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren 
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Find us and free resources at: 
www.gracebased.com

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A Prayer for When Your Child Has a Panic Attack

Good Father,

You are no stranger to panic,
And you never leave us in it.

You who breathed the stars into being
once gasped for breath in a garden.
You wept.
You staggered.
You sweat blood.

You knew what was coming…
And your body could not hold the sorrow quietly.
You trembled and cried out.
You were overwhelmed.
So you stayed in the garden,
And you prayed.

Now my child trembles.
Her breath catches.
It chokes.
Her body believes a threat is near—
though, no cross looms on a hill.

Still… she cannot breathe.
Still… her hands shake.
Still… her mind spirals.

And I…
I can do nothing but stay.

So help me stay. And pray.

I will not rush to reason
where logic cannot reach.
I will not preach peace
while her body screams fear.

Instead—
I will be peace.
I will be presence.
I will be stillness.
I will be breath beside her
when hers is lost.

And as I hold her trembling frame,
I hold her up to you.

You who stayed awake that night
while your friends slept
stay with her now.

You who pray with groans
too deep for words
pray over her now.

You who never slumber,
who never sleep
be her shield.
Be her advocate.
Be her friend.

This moment…
is a midnight garden.
And you are not absent.

So I will sit with her, like you do.
I will keep watch.
I will pray.

Believing this night will not last – 
Resurrection is coming.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Author: Cheree Hayes 

Family Connection Moment:

When their breathing begins to slow, invite them to breathe with you.
Place your hand gently on your chest so they can see and follow.

On the inhale, say together: “God is with me”
On the exhale, say together: “in the storm.”

Repeat slowly, at least five times.
Let the words ride the breath until their body feels calmer, and remind them, “Even when we can’t stop the storm, God stays in it with us.”

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

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A Prayer For When the Kids Are Fighting...Again.

Our Father,

Thank you for giving my children to each other. 

Thank you for their bond, and for all they will teach each other

about growing together, forbearance, and love that costs something.

But Lord, they are fighting again.

It is cutting and fierce and loud. 

Quiet their hearts. 

Where there is selfishness, banish it.

Where impatience is spilling over, give patience.

Teach them to see each other with charity.

Burden them for each other.

Jesus, give me wisdom for this moment:

Not to take a “side;” 

Not to intrude where they must discover on their own

what it’s like to be hurt, and to hurt.

Let me not neglect to protect them, either.

Let this be a real-world picture for them

Of the cost of real love

And the irreplaceable gift of their family.

Shepherd us gently towards peace,

generosity, self-forgetfulness, and love.

Amen.

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written by Alli R. Dahlgren

produced by Dan Gummel 

music by blue.sessions

Get more free family resources at www.gracebased.com