Dear God,
This is a prayer for children who can never find their shoes.
Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and sulk in the car.
Who scream at their parents and hit their friends.
This is a prayer for children who rattle papers in church;
who stick gum to their eyelashes and draw pictures on their skin.
Who kick bashful cats and eat from the dog’s bowl.
This is a prayer for children who don’t like to be hugged.
Who wad up their math homework and throw it away.
Who don’t match their clothes well and have tangles in their hair.
This is a prayer for children who yell into the telephone.
Who say funny things and cause us to laugh.
Who fall asleep at midnight and wake up at dawn.
This is a prayer for children who won’t color in the lines.
Who read Shakespeare and Dickens but can’t learn their math.
Who can learn their math but can’t read their text.
This is a prayer for children who are afraid of the dark but believingly pray for the presence of angels.
This is a prayer for children who love you.
Heal them God.
Bless them.
Protect them.
Forgive them.
But most of all, just love them, Father.
Because this is a prayer for children whom the world has
never greeted with enthusiasm or cherished as a treasure.
Though surely, as your creations, they do deserve both.
So this is a prayer to say thank you, dear God,
for putting these children here on our earth.
May we bring honor and glory to your name as we
guide them along this part of their journey. -Amen

From “Living with a Challenging Child, Encouragement for
Mothers of Children with ADD, Hyperactivity, or Other Behavioral Problems” by Jayne Ray Garrison

-Sent in by Marg Haalstra- Koke, Chatham, Ontario