The Plumb Line: A Mother’s Prayer

As I lay in bed this morning, my heart poured out to the Lord on behalf of my children. Oh, how I long to see them living in victory, fulfilled as servants of God, every longing in their hearts satisfied, and dwelling in peace that comes only from intimate relationship with Christ.

We were with some of the family yesterday and enjoyed the grandchildren so very much. We celebrated a birthday (a week late, but he didn't care), and watched them all run and play and have a ball. Such a blessing it is to see these little extensions of our own love so full of life! To me, it is still almost foreign. Being adopted, I never grew up with the feeling of "extension". Rather, our family was pieced together, albeit by God's purposeful design. But there were no "strings attached" … I didn't have my mother's smile or my father's eyes. I was an entity of myself in a family who called me their own. But now, with our own family, I can look down through two more generations that have been formed as a result of our relationship and see children who have their mother's smile, their daddy's eyes, their papa's mouth, and their nana's hair. You couldn't possibly know what that feels like—how I revel in just watching these little beings who are totally connected to me through their DNA. I stand in awe!

But that's what makes the heart of this mother and grandmother so burdened to pray. These peoples who are extensions from me are incredibly special to me. I feel their hurt and pain. I see their discontent and needs. And my heart breaks … I wanted more for my children and grandchildren. I want them to know peace that surpasses all understanding. I want them to know God so deeply that He becomes their shield, protecting them from the elements of this world—rejection, pain, and suffering. I want to see them rise above the "norm" and be a peculiar people called according to God's divine and sovereign purpose to serve Him with their whole and undivided hearts.

Perhaps this is every mother's prayer. But this mother is still learning—to me it is unchartered territory to love so deeply and to feel so connected since I had no example of that in my own childhood. I make mistakes and seem to not understand how to communicate my love to them adequately. But let this be forever recorded publically … I couldn't possibly love my children and grandchildren more! With all their problems and challenges in life, the love seems to grow deeper and the longing of my heart becomes more profound.

Lord, touch each of their lives: Glen & Hope, Martha & Dale, Barbara & Freddie, Andrew, Dana, Debbie & Tim. Lord, keep our grandchildren safe and secure in the palm of your most capable hands: Daniel, Lydia, Joshua, Levi, Jacob, Macailyn, Brandon, McKenzie, Abraham, Dylan, Logan, and Lindsey … and our unborn grandchild. Lord, hold them all tight to your breast and don't allow them to stray too far until You gently pull them back to You. Reveal Your love and Your total ability to satisfy their every longing. Wrap Your arms around them, each and every one, and reveal Yourself to them in a powerful and personal way. We cling to Your promises – we brought them up to know You, in the way they should go … when they're old they WILL NOT depart from Your ways. We also cling to the teaching of Hebrews 11 … all these people held onto Your promise even though they didn't see the manifestation in their lifetime—their faith never wavered. Father, may our faith on behalf of our children and grandchildren—extensions of our love never waver. May they ALL know You, serve You, and live their lives for You. Be glorified through our family, Lord. Once again we give them to You that Your will be fulfilled in them and through them. In Jesus' precious name this prayer is sealed by His shed blood which we plead over each of our children and grandchildren. Amen and Amen!