Day 4: Prayers to Pray During Times of Change #YouandYourGirl series

Day 4 of 9 | Lord, make me patient |9 Prayers to Pray During Times of Change | #youandyourgirl series {May 2015} by Lynn Cowell

Day 4: Lord, Make Me Patient

“How to Survive 6th Grade”; that was the title of the book my husband told me I to write. Not for kids, but for parents! While this transition year is hard on kids, 6th grade seems to hold the potential to drive any mom crazy. Are they also going to be this awkward? Why do they struggle to be comfortable in their own skin? Is my child going to make it?

 

It’s not just the adjustment that comes with moving to 6th grade. Preschool to kindergarten. Elementary to middle school. Middle school to high school. Passenger to driver. Chaperoned to more alone time.

 

These transitions of moving from dependence to independence carry the possibility for exciting and new as well as fear and anxiety.

 

In the middle of this movement there is a bit of awkwardness.

 

Our kids want to drive our car, but not mow the lawn. Stay out late, but not wake up early. Go to a friend’s to play, but not pick up their toys. Have a sleep over, but not make their bed.

 

So, which are they? Child? Adult?

 

Both.

 

Yes, they are both. They are in transition and so are we.

 

The older our kids become, the pressure and the consequences of their actions grow. And our heart can hover, like a helicopter at an emergency scene, trying to find a place to land to assess the damage. We want to help.

 

But more times than not, our place is not to lift them, but launch them.

 

Help them to get on their own.

 

Lord, grow in me patience. Patience to watch my child struggle in the cocoon of change, for here she will gain the strength to become what You call beautiful. Amen

 

What season of change have you come out of, are in or are going into? Why will patience be the fruit of the Spirit you will need in it?

 

book_banner

Is your girl struggling with patience during this time in her life? Plan to go through Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants this summer and together allow God to grow the fruit of the Spirit in both of you!

 

COMPEL Training: Subconscious narrative, sticky statement, hook

You can read all the May You and Your Girl series here.

Lynn

5 Comments

  1. That is the most awkward age of all, to me. That tween-to-teen time, from sixth to eighth grades, seems to be one of the most taxing on the kids, and the parents. They need so much more grace in those years…and, they need to give more grace to themselves too. It’s a rough age, but, lots of growth happens in that middle-school cocoon.

    Lovely thoughts, thanks for sharing!
    Blessings!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I agree with you, Brenda. I love the positive side you highlighted “lots of growth happens”. Lord, help us to encourage our kids during their seasons of transitions to grow toward You!

  2. My girl just moved home from her first year of college, though excited to be home, and done with her first year, she is also feeling the ‘transition’ of being back home, under supervision, under the rules of our home, where she is expected to be a vital participant, and help out! It’s been trying, but thank you for this, Lynn, it hits HOME to this mamma’s heart today! So many changes for us ALL!

    xoxo

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I went through that last summer, Bobbie. It is a tough time for every body, yet at the same time, one to be cherish. You never know when this summer might be the last. My oldest went to college and has lived in his college town every since.

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