• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

March 19, 2012

Praying for your Kids series…Part 3

 
MP900438625 (2)-1
We are so thrilled to have the lovely Richella from Imparting Grace with us here for Part 3 in our Praying for your Kids series. Before we get to her wonderful insights about how prayer has impacted her family, we want to take a minute to announce a great new linky party that Richella is starting.

We’ll let her tell you about it in her own words…

My blog’s purpose is to do what the title says–to impart grace.
I want my home to be full of grace, too. I want it to be a place where my family, my friends, and my guests feel special and loved and welcome. I’m betting you feel the same way about your home.

To celebrate all the things we do to make our homes places of grace, I’m starting a new weekly linky party: Grace at Home.

Photobucket
This party will be a place for you to share anything related to making your home a place of grace. I invite you to link posts about DIY Projects, decorating, recipes, hospitality, homemaking tips, parenting, marriage, faith, self-care.
Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I’d like to hear about it.
The party will take place every Thursday, beginning March 22.

We love this idea and we hope you will meet us at Richella’s Grace at Home party this week!
Now, let’s hear what she has to say about:

Praying for your Kids
Prayer is a complex and multi-faceted subject. If you’re like me, you’ve read and heard a lot about prayer. Sometimes it seems that we can spend so much time learning about prayer that we struggle to find time to pray! While this is obviously not a complete definition of prayer, one of my favorite teachings about prayer is very simple: “Prayer is talking with God about what you and He are doing together.”
Surely there’s no activity that more clearly demonstrates our working together with God and our dependence on Him than that of parenthood. “Children are a heritage from the Lord,” we read in Psalm 127, and we know it’s true. Being part of the miracle of creating and sustaining life is one of the greatest privileges God gives us; we know we could never do it on our own.
We love our children so much, and we always want the best for them. But sometimes we find ourselves faced with particularly trying circumstances, and our prayers take on special meaning. For my family, those trying circumstances have often come through the challenges of illness. My husband and two of my sons have a genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder which can involve great difficulty and even danger.

I remember so well the month of April 2008, when our then-14-year-old son Preston had to have major open-heart surgery. For years we had hoped and prayed that medication and monitoring might prevent his needing surgery, but that was not to be. Surgery was necessary to replace his ascending aorta with a polyester graft and his aortic valve with an artificial valve.

I’ll never forget one particular scene from the day of Preston’s surgery. For weeks I had held things together pretty well, doing all the big and little things required of me. And I kept a smile on my face in pre-op, staying calm when they wheeled Preston away and quiet as we took our seats in the waiting room. Several friends had gathered there to wait with Jack and me. We were all chatting cheerfully when one of the nurses called the waiting room from the Operating Room. The receptionist matter-of-factly relayed the message: “The surgeon wants you to know that Preston is safely under anesthesia and they’ve made the incision,” she said. “Thank you very much,” I answered. Then I burst into tears.

As I sobbed, my friends circled around me. My friend Anne took my hand and said, “Let’s pray right now.” Right there, in front of the whole waiting room, loud enough for everyone to hear, my friends prayed. They lifted Preston and the medical team and Jack and me to God, and they asked for every good thing. Five days later, Preston went home from the hospital.
That crisis was one I couldn’t have weathered by myself. I was helpless to heal Preston, helpless to affect the outcome of the surgery, helpless even to keep myself calm and peaceful. God alone could provide what was needed.

Of course, the time of Preston’s surgery was really just a special example of what God does for us every day. Most days we don’t feel as helpless and dependent as I felt that day, but the truth is that we wouldn’t even have air to breathe if it weren’t for the goodness and grace of God. Were it not for God’s grace, we wouldn’t have our children, much less be able to care for them. Oh, yes! Parenthood is definitely something that we and God are doing together!

But to tell the truth, God doesn’t always answer prayers as we’d like. Sometimes terrible things happen to children of parents who pray for them earnestly and faithfully. Theologians of different persuasions offer various explanations for this; they refer to it “the problem of evil.” Some of their explanations are helpful; others are not. The humbling reality is that we don’t understand exactly how God works. We don’t know why some prayers are answered “yes” and some are answered “no.” Some things are a mystery to us.

One thing we can know for sure, though: God loves us. “We know and rely on the love God has for us” (I John 4:16). When it comes to our children, we struggle. We cry. We’re afraid. Sometimes the things we fear come to pass. But when we pray for our children, we’re staking a claim. We’re saying that we trust God. We’re depending on Him for the very best for our children. God alone is strong enough overcome the most difficult of circumstances. 


Not even the things we fear most can separate us from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39).

As we pray for our children, we’re becoming people who know–really know–that God is good. We thank Him for blessing us with our kids. We humbly rely on Him as we do the work with which He’s entrusted us. We humble ourselves before Him and spend time with Him, and He changes our hearts to be more like the heart of Christ. As we become more Christlike, we want to spend more time with him. Then when we spend more time with Him, He changes our hearts some more. Just like parenting, our growth in Christlikeness is completely dependent upon God–but God has given us work to do. We are working together with God. We have a lot to talk with Him about, don’t we?


Thank you so much for sharing from your heart Richella! You have given us a lot to think about as we continue to grow in our understanding of how much more God loves our children than even we do. It seems impossible and yet that is the same love he feels for each and every one of us!

Now, here are the Biblical Virtues to be Praying for your Kids this week:

Sunday– Generosity: “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.” (1 Timothy 6:18-19)
Monday– Peace-loving: “Father let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Romans 14:19)
Tuesday– Joy: “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
Wednesday– Perseverance: “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them.” (Hebrews 12:1)
Thursday– Humility: “God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.” (Titus 3:2)
Friday– Compassion: “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.” (Colossians 3:12)
Saturday– Responsibility: “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load. ” (Galatians 6:5)
A big thank you again to Richella from Imparting Grace for being our special guest here today and thanks to all of you for joining us for another Simply Sunday at the Fence!






Email Updates
Facebook Page
Pinterest

7 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Praying for your Kids, Simply Sundays

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Inspiration Friday No. 56 and a Cottage in the Oaks GIVEAWAY!
Next Post: You’re Already Amazing~ Book Review »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LDH says

    March 18, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    Such a great post from Richella written with faith and a tender heart.

    My post this week on Think on These Things is also about praying for our (older) kids. I would love for you to share this with us there.

    Kindly, Lorraine

    Reply
  2. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    March 18, 2012 at 6:34 PM

    Praise the Lord for His Love, Mercy and Grace. Beautiful post and such a touching story. I will keep her son in prayer. God has much ahead for him. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  3. Dayle @ A Collection of This and That says

    March 18, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    Beautiful post.

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    March 18, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    I love the Lord and I love how He works everything together for our good! Even,…and especially,… the hard things. I love Richella…and I loved her post. She always encourages me. Thank you for asking her to be your special quest!

    Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

    Reply
  5. Ange says

    March 18, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    I recently discovered RichellA’S BLOG AND lovE HER HEARt. sorry for the cRAZy typing, my laptop IS ON ITS LAST LEGS. i LOVE YOur hearts and how you share the Lord AND HIS LOVE FOR US ON YOUR BLOG AND ALSO INTRODUCTING US TO NEW BLOGS WHO SHARE THE SAME LOVE. THANKS FOR BLESSING ME TODAY, LOVE YOU GUYS!

    Reply
  6. elizabeth says

    March 18, 2012 at 11:30 PM

    I really needed and appreciate this post today. My daughter, son in law, and two grandchildren leave Tuesday as missionaries to Ghana.

    Reply
  7. Richella says

    March 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM

    Heather and Vanessa, thank you so much for letting me participate in this series! Parenting is such a privilege, but it’s definitely not something we can do our own, is it? God intends us to lean on Him and help one another. Thank you for making your blog a place for people to connect and encourage one another.

    I appreciate the two of y’all very much!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence