A mother prayed at close of day,

Lord, bless my children in a special way.

Keep them fit, healthy and strong,

And guide their feet from all that is wrong.

Lord, help them be thoughtful, gentle and kind,

And let your light through them to the world shine.

May your Word be their guide all along life’s way

And from its precepts may they never stray.

Give them faith each new day to greet,

And strength enough each problem to meet.

Give them enough of this world’s goods,

And the wisdom to use it as they should.

Help them in heaven their treasures to lay,

And put you first in every way.

May they always be thoughtful of those in need,

And those that hunger try to feed.

May they always respect those old in years,

And strive to bring smiles and wipe away tears.

And love little children, the strong and the weak,

And always the Lost from sin to seek.

May they love their country and hold it in pride,

And never their devotion and love to hide.

Help them to see beauty in the world around,

And be mindful of the blessings that here abound.

May they always like you, Lord, strive to be,

So that others in them your love will see.

And their life be an example good and true,

So that others will follow you, too.

Help them always, Father, to see,

That they are just stewards of your gifts so free,

And someday when they must give an account,

It’s how the gifts were used and not the amount.

They are my children, Lord, a part of me,

And like you I’ve tried to teach them to be.

As out into the world each one I did send,

My one desire was that they stay free from sin.

That they love the good and for the truth be bold,

So that a home in heaven would be their gold.

And someday in that “Home Over There,”

By the river of life all your joys we can share.

Amen.

Author’s Note : This is a little poem I wrote for my children some years ago. It has a special meaning for me. Several years ago a friend of mine was writing to a young man who was on death row for murdering his wife. He wrote her back, “If my mother had prayed for me, I might not be here on death row today.” We need to always keep our children in our prayers. They never get too old or too far away. They always need to know that Mom is praying for them. - Bettye Beck