Thank you God for the privilege of being a parent. For sleepless nights, spilled drinks and eyes that twinkle with laughter.

I would not trade these for anything.

I look in amazement at the perfect little hands and toes You have created. I know no man could create something so precious as a child.

I am in awe that You would thrust me with a child of Yours.

I often wonder how I am going to do this. How will I raise my children to respect others, to not exclude other children and to give willingly when I struggle with these same things. How can I teach them Your Word, when sometimes I don't understand it myself? What do I say when I have no answers to the trials and struggles of the world?

I look at the faces of my children, so innocent and unsuspecting of what the world wants to do to them.

I want to shelter my children and keep them from the hurt and pain of life. But I know when I look back over my life, it is my struggles that have taught me. The hard times are when You, my Heavenly Father, have molded me into who I am today. God, please give me the strength I need to allow them to struggle and the loving words to say when they come running back.