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Prayer of a Fumbling Disciplinarian

April 15, 2013 by Alyssa Ramsey 15 Comments

Father of perfect discipline,

 

Give me a heart that loves mercy more than being right,

that loves grace more than law and compassion more than control.

Help me not to feel guilt when the discipline is right. Help me to discipline rightly.

How many times — knowing you were watching, knowing good and well that I could stand — how many times have I willfully fallen?

Yet how quick I am to condemn the same weakness in another.

 

I know what it’s like to be powerless, riddled with guilt,

and waiting for judgment to fall.

How gently you restore me!

Remind what a relief that is.

Remind me that love — not justice, not guilt, not domination —

love covers a multitude of wrongs.

 

Let me not discipline out of my own embarrassment, exhaustion, fear, or haste.

Let me put away the tools of demolition: shame, rage, sarcasm, fear,

and fit me instead with the fruit of your Spirit,

that I may spend it on the little ones

who wonder what you’re like.

 

May my instruction always create hope and never crush it.

May it work restoration, not alienation;

forgiveness, not condemnation.

For these are what you have worked in me;

how quickly I forget it.

 

And when I fail — when, not if —

when I rail and scream and kick and flail against you

like the unruly, hot-cheeked child that I am,

pick me up, turn me around,

bend low and speak my name.

 

Give me courage to meet your gaze,

and show me how it’s done again.

—–   —–   —–

Featured Image cut from Child Praying at Mother’s Knee by Pierre-Édouard Frère

  • Author
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Alyssa Ramsey
Alyssa Ramsey
Alyssa loves to read, and sometimes she even has time for it.
Alyssa Ramsey
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Filed Under: Fostering Imagination, Parenting

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Comments

  1. S.D. Smith says

    April 15, 2013 at 11:56 am

    I love this, Alyssa.

    Reply
  2. Jeanine Joyner says

    April 16, 2013 at 10:43 am

    This tired mama needed that today:). Beautiful and true.

    Reply
    • Alyssa Ramsey says

      April 17, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Oh yes, I’m right there with you. Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  3. Brenda Branson says

    April 16, 2013 at 11:27 am

    Alyssa, this is beautiful and such a wonderful truth for parents.

    Reply
    • Alyssa Ramsey says

      April 17, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Thank you for your encouragement as always, Brenda!

      Reply
  4. Michael Coughlin says

    April 16, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    That’s excellent!

    Reply
    • Guest says

      April 17, 2013 at 6:21 am

      Thanks, Michael.

      Reply
  5. Jenny says

    April 16, 2013 at 12:13 pm

    Lovely. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Susan says

    April 16, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Beautiful, honest, life-giving truth. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Susan McCurdy says

    April 17, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Beautiful. Something this old mama needs to read everyday in those early hours after reading the book of books and praying to the God of all. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Alyssa Ramsey says

      April 18, 2013 at 8:32 am

      Thank you, Susan. What an honor.

      Reply
  8. James Witmer says

    April 17, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    This is apples of gold, in settings of silver.

    Reply
    • Alyssa Ramsey says

      April 18, 2013 at 8:29 am

      Them’s lofty words, James. Thank you.

      Reply
  9. Annie Barnett says

    April 30, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    Thank you for this.

    Reply
  10. Michele says

    May 1, 2013 at 11:58 am

    Beautiful! I’m going to print it out and have it has a daily reminder/prayer for me in walking on this parenting journey! Thank you so much for sharing this!

    Reply

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