This Precious Child

The following is a poem that appeared on my sister's blog. It was read at her son's mass - and it really touched me. The last week hasn't been easy for me as a mommy. My usual is to have a stomach in knots over this that or the other...but when my immune-deficient son is struggling to breathe and has a 103 fever the knots turn into boulders and my heart turns into flubber. There is no pain like that of worrying about your children. God gave me this child to nurture and guide - something I was reminded of with this prayer. For all my mom-friends, get out your tissues...

"Dear God, I thank You for the gift of this child to raise,
this life to share, this mind to help mold, this body to nurture.

Let me never betray this child's trust, dampen this child's hope,
or discourage this child's dreams.

Help me, dear God, to help this precious child become all You mean him to be.

Let Your grace and love fall on him like gentle breezes and give him inner strength and peace and patience for the journey ahead.

Amen."

My son's journey has never been an easy one. Yet the peace and patience that radiates from him never ceases to amaze me. As he lies in his bed even at this moment, and I prepare for the hour of medicine administering after he awakes (no doubt with tears and anger), I see God's peace on his face and in his heart. What a gift it is to hold him in my arms.