Jesus understands parents.

We love the illustrations of Jesus embracing children. We know He loves children. We know, from the passage in Luke 18, that he stops to spend time with children. But, as he stops for the children, isn’t he answering the prayers of their parents? Isn’t he saying, “I know the challenges you’re facing, and I want to be part of your walk as a parent”?

Mother’s Day is approaching. Father’s Day is on the horizon. Summer, which creates new challenges and opportunities for parents of school-aged children, is near.

Let’s pray for parents and for all of those who have opportunities to grow our children and young people.

On May 7, as the sun sets at 8:22, from wherever you are, with whomever wants to join you, let’s lift prayer thanking God for those who parented us and asking Him to continue pouring His Love and His Light into those parenting, and thinking about parenting, in our families, church families, and communities.

Let’s pray for mothers and fathers.

Let’s pray for grandparents, great-grandparents, and aunts and uncles.

Let’s pray for stepmothers and stepfathers.

Let’s pray for single parents and those parents distanced from their children.

Let’s pray for adoptive parents and foster parents.

Let’s pray for families with two dads and families with two moms.

Let’s pray for the professionals and the volunteers who nurture and mentor and encourage our children and youth.

As we move through the month, let’s pray for the people we see pushing a stroller, pitching batting practice, climbing the steps to the children’s library, waiting for the school bus, taking their children to church.

Let’s ask God to bless them with peace and patience, with imagination and energy, with strength and stamina.

And, let’s consider asking God to shed some of His Light on opportunities for each of us to walk alongside parents. Lord, how can we help? How can we encourage? How can we reflect your Love and your Light in ways that lift parents? Use us, Lord, to love your children and the people caring for them.