For a long time now I’ve prayed for my kids to be ordinary.
Not exceptional, not top-of-the-class, and not outstanding. Simply ordinary. And I’ve begun to wonder if I’ve wandered way off base.
I watch the sports stars of today, the movie stars, the singers, writers, and performers and I want to protect my kids from the choices they make. From the choices they have to make that really, what kid should have to face? I read about the over achievers in preschool, the track stars, and the class leaders and I feel afraid. And I pray for average. For content kids who fall into the happy middle.
And now I’m wondering if this makes me a coward?
Aren’t we called to be unique? To be courageous? To be leaders? Should I be praying for more than the middle for my kids?
Today we took them sledding for the very first time. The anticipation the last few days has been almost more than they could stand. And then they took that first run. The look on their faces was frozen terror. But determined. So very determined.
And once they’d reached the bottom. Once they’d survived. Once they’d accomplished the impossible.
Pure exhilirated delight.
Who am I to pray for less than the greatness God has woven into each of them? The brave beauty that he has mapped inside their DNA. I want to pray it out. I want to pray it realized. And I want to be right there in the front row to watch. To witness them overcome a fear and embrace a ride that God designed just for them.
I want to be as brave as they are.
So I can be just as chock-full of delicious joy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t want to miss a post? Sign up to get them emailed to your doorstep right here.
Or delivered to your reader of choice.
To read this: “To witness them overcome a fear and embrace a ride that God designed just for them.” sandwiched between those two faces of pure glee, powerful. I had to un-lurk for that! :)
Thanks Tammy! It moved me too. I couldn’t get over the joy that their fear had given way to. Big lesson for mama.
love this! We try very hard not to keep our kids in a box. Our oldest sons seems to love music, performing, speaking, art…and we wonder where it will take him. My husband, his father, is an accountant still looking for his “calling” and wondering if he’s doing what he’s designed best for, and probably wishes he hadn’t always played it so “safe”….so we hope to encourage our boys in the direction of what God is calling them to–even if it’s unique, weird or even scary. We know that it pays off to NOT “be normal,” but it sure can be frightening for mom!! I tend to go out on a limb more and try things out…I hope they follow suit! It’s ok to experiment–as we say, “normal is boring!” Trying to figure out our niche is important work and I hope to foster that in my kids, no matter what!
Thanks for such an insightful post!
Thanks for the insights, Tabitha. I love hearing how brave moms approach praying for their kids.
I would be frightened to pray ordinary over my children… Like you said, who am I to ask for less than what Gid has made them to be? I imagine standing before God at judgement and Him asking me why I hindered His prophet (or doctor, or athlete) from doing His calling because of my own fear, and that’s enough to have me praying BOLDLY!
Mothers prayers are powerful! Thank you for the reminder to utter them wisely. xx
*ahem* That would be GOD…
Oh Jen, dang, you just got me right in the gut. Thank you. I needed that.
The mama bear instinct can be hard to overcome! There was a poster in the gym where I did gymnastics that read, “Don’t pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person.” I have adopted that prayer for both my children and me.
Your boys are precious, by the way.
You are brave. I am learning :)
I love this…it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a couple weeks now, ever since I heard a short clip on the radio about how we are not called to raise our children to be safe but to be strong and courageous. Thank you for your post this morning!!
Man, seems like a lot of mamas have to work through what to pray for their kids – so glad to know I’m not alone in the journey.
I pray my children are successful. I want them to be who they want to be. I define success as having true happiness and joy in their life. If they have love in their lives, they are successful. If they have peace in their life, they are successful. :)
Those photos are just that: “delicious joy.”
I see *extraordinary* all over you and your family! :-)
I’m gonna take that beautiful word to the bank!
Gorgeous words, as usual gorgeous Mama!
p.s. where did you find snow like that in NoVa? We are hurting for winter fun, haven’t even broken out the shovel this year!
No where in NoVa! :) We’re in the MidWest at the moment loving the winter wonderland!
Now that my children are grown and starting their own families, I find the same fears hitting me for my grandchildren. But then I remember that God created them for His pleasure and glory, that He goes before them, with them, and behind them, that He covers them with the shadow of His wing, and that not one word He’s spoken concerning them will fail but all will be brought to pass.
When I distill my prayers for my children and grandchildren to their essence, I have only one. I pray that, when they stand in God’s presence, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May your sweet boys be great in God’s kingdom, and may you have grace to recognize His goodness in all He sends their way to conform them to the image of Christ.
Love, Jeanne
Maybe God is listening to your heart and not your wording. It seems to me your desire is not necessarily that your kids be average but that they be content and simply at peace with who they are. Hmmm – I like that. I think I’m going to start praying that my kids will be at peace with who they are. :)
i used to long to be something special, but after seeing the pain and pitfalls that come with fame, i praise God for my ordinariness. for my kids(and for myself), i pray for the courage to be true to themselves, especially when that differs from cultural norms or expectations.
Sometimes, I think, it takes more courage to be ordinary than to be different and unique. As a teacher/counselor my life is full of children whose parents demand so much extraordinariness from them that they are balls of perfectionism and anxiety. I struggle to remember and practice a grace with my own family that being ordinary can be extraordinary.
I agree with earlier comments that what it seems is you are praying for your kids to become most fully who God created them to be–and that is truly a powerful blessing.
Such beautiful words…yours and those who have commented….that nourish the soul. Just this morning I have had a conversation with my husband and one daughter about the third daughter and “basketball”. How to encourage her to use her talents without needing to be the “star” and learning those lessons needed for life. High School is so fleeting………I still haven’t placed my finger on it, but this has stirred a direction. Maybe I need to pray that I am “not ordinary”. Thank you for wisdom to be used on this journey of motherhood!
Lovely post… thank you!
I know just what you mean!
No child is ordinary in the eyes of God. *grin* I think… I think that praying for happiness, for holiness is very important, whether one has an “ordinary kid” or a super-achiever. Because their happiness, their holiness, should be our Top Priority. Loved this post, Lisa-Jo.
I look at the World and can so easily see where your fear comes from! It would be so much easier to lock them up tight and keep them safe. I face a lot of fear even in our ordinary life though, and prayer is the only answer. I pray (and pray, and pray unceasingly some more) that God will be with them every moment and that they will KNOW He’s with them every moment. Maybe that will save them some of the painful lessons.
I agree that He wants us to raise them to be bold and brave, warriors for Him. But it takes a brave mama too, that’s for sure!
I have 4 ordinary kids- healthy, smart, unique- but ordinary. They are not geniuses or super-talented BUT God has given them so much to work with if they want it. They’ll work for what they achieve and that is GREAT