A Parent's Prayer

Heavenly Father, make me a better parent.
Teach me to understand my children.

To listen patiently to what they have to say,
and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interruping or contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them
as I would have them be to me.

May I never laugh at their mistakes,
or resort to ridicule when they displease me.

Bless me with the confidence to grant them
all their reasonable requests and the courage
to deny them privileges I know will do them harm.

May I not rob them of the opportunity to think,
to choose and to make decisions for themselves.

Make me fair and just and kind.

And fit me, O Lord, to be loved and respected
and imitated by my children. Amen.

Cary C. Myers