I have a confession to make. I always have a tidier vision of how family time will go than it actually turns out. I envision laughing and bonding and everyone being so grateful for all I’ve done to create these memories. But then real life just doesn’t always match what I imagined.

I love spending time with my kids until everybody starts acting grumpy, and the house is messy, and I can’t get my people to cooperate with my idea of togetherness.

Maybe during this COVID-19 season, you’re discovering the same thing.

Instead of reacting with exasperated declarations of my frustration, I’m learning to put my heart in a better place each morning through prayer. When I pray for my people ... I don’t have as many unrealistic expectations. I find I can still say hard things but with a much kinder heart. And I can see more good in the midst of our everyday interactions rather than fixating on the aggravations.

I’ve partnered with my friend, Lisa Robertson, to write out some scriptural prayers for parents to pray for themselves. I also have a list I wrote of scriptural prayers to declare over daughters and another over sons.

Print these off and put them wherever you have a few minutes of quiet each morning.

And friend, let me whisper one more truth to you ... you’re doing better than you think you are. No time spent in prayer is ever wasted. Our prayers matter. And in the midst of so much uncertainty, prayer is the best way to bring peace into our heart and home.

Blessings,
Lysa TerKeurst