Praying for Your Child From Head to ToeEsimerkki

Day By Day

When my son, Steven, was five years old, it was time to take the training wheels off his little red bicycle. We stayed on the grassy part of our yard at first—just in case. Steven sat on the seat and placed his feet on the pedals while I held the back of the bike. Off he went. But as soon as he realized I had let go, down he went.

“You can do it!” I cheered. “Let’s try again. Before you know it, riding your bike will be the funnest thing you ever do as a kid!”

On the tenth and final try of the day, Steven threw the bike down, stood to his full four-foot stature, and with fists on his hips proclaimed, “This is not fun, and it will never be fun!” And off he stomped into the house.

So we let it go.

The next morning, Steven went to the garage while still in his pj’s, rolled the training-wheel-free bicycle to the yard, and perched on the seat. He gripped the handlebars, placed his feet on the pedals, and set his jaw. Then he took off across the yard. He was a little wobbly at first, but upright nonetheless. And you know what? Riding his bike was the funnest thing he did as a kid.

Have you ever thought, Being a mom is not fun, and it will never be fun! I have. Picking up toys strewn all over the den floor … again. Driving to urgent care … again. Washing the third load of laundry in one day. Arguing about curfew.

Until the next day, when you catch a glimpse of your child’s face and you get back on the bike and ride the “mothercycle”again. Wobbly maybe. Tired for sure. But one day you’ll look back over the years and know that motherhood was the funnest thing you ever did. Along the way, God renewed your strength, day by day (see Isaiah 40:31).

In every season of parenting, God calls us to stand in the gap for our children in prayer. I’m so glad He has found such a mom in you.

Pray the following verses over you and your child:

Isaiah 40:30–31
2 Chronicles 15:7
Galatians 6:9

This plan is presented to you by Praying for Your Child From Head to Toe, by Sharon Jaynes, an Esther Press resource. To learn more about this book, please click here.

Adapted from Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe © 2022 Sharon Jaynes. Published by Esther Press, an imprint of David C Cook. Used by permission.