Praying for your children

This may be a short posting as the girls are due to wake up any minute, but it's an important one, so here goes! 


I've been reading through Genesis this month (it started as an attempt to read the Bible in a year, but I've taken that expectation off of myself. I'm enjoying reading at my own pace-- some days more, some days less. My intention is to read through the whole Bible, but not on a timeline) and have been encouraged by God's conversations with Abraham. 


While I could go on and on about the interactions that Abraham has with God in these early chapters (perhaps I will at a later time) I was most struck this morning by a verse in chapter 17. Abraham is talking to God, who promises to give him a child through his wife Sarah. As part of that conversation Abraham says to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" (Ishmael is his child born to him through his wife's maidservent in an act of distrust that he would ever have a child through Sarah). 


I love the heart of Abraham here asking for a blessing for his child. I'm ashamed to even admit this, but in the 2 1/2 years that I've been a mom I don't know if I've ever formally asked God to bless my children. I've prayed for them, though not consistently...I've said bedtime prayers with Ava, though not consistently. But I don't know if I've ever just said boldly, "If only Ava and Ella might live under your blessing!" Wow. That's powerful. It feels like maybe the most important thing I could do for my children. 


Boy, do I ever feel like I'm just stumbling along as a mom sometimes, especially when it comes to integrating my faith and motherhood. I am thankful for new mercies and a new start every morning. 


Thank you God for your word and it's teaching in my life. I pray that Ava and Ella may live under your blessing. Amen.