YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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For parents who could use some “thank yous”

Dear Parent,

Raising children is truly Kingdom work, and it is far from easy. So today we send some “thank yous” your way in an effort to remind you of the God who sees you, knows you, and loves you, and who has been with you every step of this (often thankless) parenting journey.

Thank you for saying yes to the life of another,

for surrendering parts of your own story

and embracing sacrificial love.

Thank you for the time, energy, and resources

you have poured out for a child who,

at the start, had nothing to offer you in return.

Thank you for opening your heart to the

devastating love of becoming a parent.

Thank you for waking up at 5 a.m. to warm the bottle,

rock the baby, stir the oatmeal, and entertain the toddler.

Thank you for cleaning up all the messes—

for sweeping and wiping and washing your hands raw

from the bodily fluids, sand and dirt,

paint and glue, peanut butter and avocados.

Thank you for preparing all the meals,

for scheduling all the appointments,

for thinking ahead to the next season’s needs,

for buying new shoes and clothes (and often

neglecting your own worn-out wardrobe),

for taking care of sick kids even when you

have also gotten the flu and could use some

TLC yourself.

Thank you for managing the endless carousel

of dishes and laundry, changing the sheets and sorting the socks.

Thank you for rescuing those tiny Lego pieces

from under the couch, for walking the dog they begged you for,

for stocking the pantry with each child's favorite snacks,

for making holidays feel special and staying up late to

bake a cake, clean the kitchen, wrap the presents.

Thank you for putting your own wants on hold,

for saying “no” to that job opportunity because

it meant missing an important dance recital.

And… thank you for saying “yes” to that other

job opportunity because it meant paying

some bills and modeling the value of hard work.

Thank you for ignoring the cultural pressures

that prize appearances, wealth, and quick fixes—

for listening to the voice of wisdom instead,

valuing the eternal over the temporary,

the heart of the child over mindless obedience.

Thank you for shepherding the natural stubbornness

of an adolescent when they think they know it all,

for giving them space to grow

even when it breaks your heart.

Thank you for honoring their “aha” moments

without pointing out… this is exactly what

I’ve been trying to tell you for months.

Through every season of parenting,

thank you for the grace you’ve given them,

the grace you’ve given yourself,

and the way you believe and trust that

Jesus is enough.

He sees you, he knows you, he loves you.

Family Connection Moment

Consider an appreciation circle during a family dinner. Ask everyone to call out things they have recently appreciated about others, not to ask for applause or pats on the back, but to cultivate gratitude in all of you.

Author: Alli R. Dahlgren

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Find us:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A prayer for parental regret

Merciful God,

Certain phases of parenting have come and gone,

and though I know regret is a waste of time,

there are things I wish I’d done differently.

Words I should or shouldn’t have said,

choices I’d like to redo,

help I wish I’d asked for,

wise advice unheeded,

anger untempered,

frustration and fatigue

I wish I’d handled with more maturity.

Lord, I take a deep breath in your presence,

acknowledging that all my regrets are in the past,

and what is here now is your love and forgiveness.

(pause and take some deep breaths)

Cultivate in me the humility of an apprentice,

so that every regret would feed the soil

where patience, empathy, and wisdom grow.

May I be quick to apologize, change course,

or take that extra step in love when I feel like giving up.

And may every mistake I am yet to make

soften my heart and deepen my dependence

on your grace.

Thank you that your mercies are new every morning,

your faithfulness revealed in our weakness.

And through it all, help me parent

with this same approach—

grace upon grace upon grace.

Amen.

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Alli R. Dahlgren

find us and more resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer for When Their Friends Don't Understand.

Loving Father,

My child is going through something

none of their friends understand,

and they are feeling alone.

I know this kind of loneliness

is part of being human.

Sometimes it’s for simple reasons

like an interest no one we know shares.

Other times it’s more complex:

a disease or diagnosis, a family struggle,

a mental health challenge, a loss.

Regardless of today’s reason,

my child is hurting,

so I hurt too.

I want to yell at the world to be kinder.

I want to correct each misguided comment

and protect their heart from the

pain of being misunderstood.

Yet I know the only thing I can control

is the way I show up for them in this ache,

so I ask for the energy and insight

to support them well.

May our home be a soft landing place

for their body and spirit to rest and recharge—

to be held and seen and loved unconditionally.

Father, you understand them

better than they understand themselves,

so I ask for your nearness

to be revealed in their lonely moments,

comforting them with the knowledge

that they are beloved.

Help us all remember that the reason

we long to be known in the first place

is because we are made for relationship—

made to reach for you, our Creator.

So I pray that this experience leads my child

to your loving arms, to your eternal belonging,

your unflinching embrace.

Amen.

written by:
Alli R. Dahlgren

Find us and free resources:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.
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In Praise of Mud and the Freedom of Childhood:

Father God,

Spring is a season of color,

new life, and mud. Lots of mud.

There's a reason many family homes

include a room named after this fact!

I am not a farmer or homesteader,

yet you wouldn’t know it

by looking at our laundry pile.

Rather than being frustrated

by the perpetual mess,

I praise you today, Lord,

for the vitality and spirit

of young children.

I praise you for the way they

splash in puddles, dig in dirt,

and stain every pair of pants

with schoolyard grass:

evidence of youth,

of play,

of freedom.

May I never take for granted

the safe spaces my children have

to be young and carefree.

I take a moment and ask

for your mercy to fall

on every child around the world

growing up in areas of unrest—

where this type of play is not

safe or possible.

Lord, have mercy.

Every time I am tempted

to wish the mess away, let it be

a reminder of the many gifts

my children enjoy,

and may I savor this season

of young childhood

while it lasts.

Amen.

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written by Alli Dalghren

produced by Dan Gummel

music by blue.sessions

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer for Nurturing Our Kids Uniqueness.

Creator God,

Each child is born

with such a unique fingerprint.

From the time they first

hold up their heads

to the day they choose

senior-year classes,

we notice their specific

strengths, weaknesses,

and delightful quirks—

and love watching them

become the people

you made them to be.

We praise you, Father,

for revealing unique

aspects of your nature

through so many different

kinds of people!

Help us be our children's

biggest cheerleaders,

fanning the flame of their

early passions and dreams,

and helping them learn

the skills they will need to

achieve their goals.

As their young minds imagine

what their adult lives will look like,

help us refrain from squashing

anything that seems unrealistic

or difficult.

The world is hard enough

on those daring to dream big,

and we want our home to be

a haven from any harsh critique.

Keep us from projecting our own

ambitions or expectations onto them,

even when their interests and talents

are foreign to us.

Help us instead teach them

to value hard work and humility,

so that regardless of their life path,

they will be the kind of people

this world needs more of.

In every stage of their becoming,

I thank you, Lord, for the gift

of being their parent.

Amen.

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FAMILY CONNECTION MOMENT

If your children have interests that are different from yours, ask questions about what they are passionate about and truly listen when they let you into their world. This will build trust between you and will mean so much to them!

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written by Alli Dalghren
produced by Dan Gummel
music by blue.sessions

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer for Times of Doubt.

Faithful God,

Doubt is a healthy part of

every faith journey,

I know that.

And whether it is a

“dark night of the soul”,

as many faithful Christians

have experienced,

or a temporary cloudiness

characterized by dull hope

and faded fire—

I long to feel moved

by your truth and beauty

once again.

I pray with my children,

but my words feel hollow,

and I struggle to answer

the questions they ask

about God and life.

Help me remember that

what they need more than answers

is my love and presence—

open arms and a humble heart.

So Lord, even when my

heart feels confused or distant,

would you keep me from closing off

to my family, or to you?

As we celebrate resurrection

this upcoming Easter, help me

lean in close to those I love,

allowing their faith to carry me

when mine is frail.

Alli R. Dahlgren

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Find us and free resources at:
www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

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A Prayer for Waking in the Night.

Gentle Father,

I have prayed to you between so

many midnights and mornings,

reaching for your company,

asking for your help.

I have awoken to

crying babies, sick children,

nightmares, accidents,

and monsters under the bed.

I have awoken to

fire alarms beeping for batteries,

rain drumming on windows—

and loudest of all perhaps:

to the sound of my own

thoughts and fears.

Did you ever wake in the night, Jesus?

Did you ever find your mind treading water,

your heart struggling to settle,

your worries and questions

rising to the surface?

Be near to me, Lord Christ,

in this sleepless hour.

When I awake to help a child,

may I have the patience and compassion

to love selflessly, even when every cell

in my body is screaming for sleep.

When I awake in a river of ruminations,

may I bring my thoughts and fears to you in prayer,

trusting that even in this quiet darkness,

you are with me, and with my family.

No matter the reason, here I am, Lord,

awake and reaching for you again,

listening for what you want

to teach me in the night.

May my heart be open,

even now, to your gentle love.

Amen.

Connection Moment:

Is there a song or hymn that calms you or your children? Next time you are up in the night with a child, try finding a song you can sing together to disarm fear, calm the nervous system, or simply lull back to sleep. Sometimes songs you would never think of as lullabies can do the trick!

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Written by Alli Dalghren
Produced by Dan Gummel
music by blue.sessions.

Get more free resources at: www.gracebased.com

YMM is a weekly prayer series for parents who need a moment. Sign up at gracebased.com/ymm to get these prayers in your inbox every Monday.

A Prayer For When Parents Are Not on the Same Page.

God of Peace,

Raising children together

is a partnership filled with immense joy

and complicated struggles.

At times our opinions, methods,

and preferences feel too far apart

to find common ground.

We confess God:

sometimes our selfish hearts care

more about being right

than about being loving.

Sometimes, in heated moments,

we say hurtful things

we don’t mean.

Forgive us, Lord.

Would you soften our hearts toward each other?

Would you give us insight into the other's point of view?

May we remember that our children

are watching—absorbing our tension,

and witnessing our humility and forgiveness,

as well as our bitterness and pride.

We need your help

to love each other through

the petty disagreements,

as well as the fractures

that feel harder to repair.

In your mercy, Lord, may each

“I’m sorry” become a doorway

into a deeper love and respect

for each other, and an example

of grace for our kids.

Help us find a way toward true partnership

so that our home might be a place

characterized by the fruit of your Spirit:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Amen.

Family Connection Moment:

Consider what repair looks like in your family relationships. How do you as parents model apologies? If you find yourselves consistently disagreeing, take time to prioritize connection. If your marriage feels truly fractured, seek professional help. Investing in your marriage is a vital part of grace-filled parenting.

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Find Us and More Free Resources"
www.gracebased.com