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UPDATED for 2015! Click here!
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UPDATE: For all of my back-to-school prayers, check this new post!
Many mothers and fathers are sending sons and daughters away to college. For both parents and children, this rite of passage is often moistened with tears and burdened by aching hearts. I offer you here Diana Macalintal's Empty Nester's Prayer in two versions: one for a daughter, one for a son.
A Parent’s Prayer
When A Daughter Leaves Home
Gracious God, you blessed me with the gift of my child
and entrusted me with her care.
Now she leaves this home and begins a new life apart from me.
Surround her with good people and watch over her each day.
And let her know that I will always be near
whenever she may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with one another
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of her empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
Amen.
A Parent’s Prayer
When A Son Leaves Home
Gracious God, you blessed me with the gift of my child
and entrusted me with his care.
Now he leaves this home and begins a new life apart from me.
Surround him with good people and watch over him each day.
And let him know that I will always be near
whenever he may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with one another
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of his empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
Amen.
I know this prayer was intended for those children who have left for college, but it is a good prayer for those who have children going to school for the first time or even in my case when my daughter is off to middle school and meeting new challenges and now my house is so empty after being filled all summer.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who deals with incoming college students and their parents, I wish more of the parents would recognize that it really is a new kind of relationship that's called for. So many parents want to cling to their children, not letting them stand up and learn their own lessons. They are so fearful of letting their children go that they in effect either postpone or sabotage their children's growth into autonomous adulthood. By loving them unhealthily they are harming them.
ReplyDeleteLet them go! Let them fly! OK, they may bump their knee or miss a deadline, but they need to do that just as much as they need to experience soaring in safety. But always ensure that they know that the safe haven of your love is there for them should they need it.
Safe home and safe flight to all the young travelers setting out on their journeys!
Thank you for your beautiful prayer. It filled my heart with comfort, after my daughter of 22, decided to leave home over a curfew discussion. She now lives with her boyfriend's family.
ReplyDeleteTHank you for the beautiful prayer. I was not a good listener with my daughter, but with everyone else. Yes I am a psychologist, it is amazing how i could such a help to others while forgetting that my daughter need me. She seemed so confident that I forgot that on the inside she was anxious and nervous about moving on to college/working and all the adult roles she was taking on. Thanks again, I apreciate the prayers to bring me back to reality.
ReplyDeleteBoth my sons are mentally challenged , my youngest at age 29 has just left home. While I'm pleased to see him move on, I feel alone and depressed. The house seems to still & quiet even though he was a docile son till of late.
ReplyDeleteYou're in my prayers, Anonymous, and I hope the prayer above may have been helpful, too.
ReplyDeleteYou're in my prayers, Anonymous, and I hope the prayer above may have been helpful, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this prayer I will keep saying this for my daughter as she leaves to go to another country to work. Being a single mom with 1 child, it is hard to let go.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am currently struggling with the fact that my only child (daughter) will be leaving for college today. Every single comment and the above prayer not only brought me to tears but also slapped me in the face as the above comment from Just Another Peiskie. How true that comment is as I am truly harming her by not allowing her to Fly. Thank you all for opening my eyes. God Bless
ReplyDeleteMiguel
What an awesome prayer. Really touched my heart and filled me with the precious love of God anew. In 2 days time i have to leave my 24 year old son behind and move back thousands of miles away to my other son and my husband. I spent two months relocating and being near him. Thank you God for letting me feel your precious love right now and giving me reassurance that you will watch over him with your Blessed Hand.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that this was helpful for you! Be sure of my prayers for your son and for you as his new chapter in your relationship begins.
DeleteThank you for posting this prayer. After graduation, my son found the job market tight and the pay even tighter, so he moved back in with us. Early last year that changed and he informed us he would move. I knew he had to leave and wanted him to leave but it was still difficult to deal with. I searched on line for a prayer to help me through it and found yours. I modified it a bit to fit our situation and continue to do so as things change.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning is started with this prayer thanking God for the blessing of my son and for helping him through his challenges in life. As long as I live I will start every day with this prayer.
Thank you so much.