when the kids start praying you know it is serious

These last few weeks of transitioning have been a little stressful.
It has turned our family kind of inside out.
Who knew changing schools and adding a 35 minute commute to your day could be do that?
Add to that the pressure of Scott's burgeoning speaking schedule and my looming deadlines
and the kids have taken to prayer.

We always pray for the kids.
We make a practice of it in the car on the way to school and at bedtime.
We hug them, hold them close and speak peace and life over them.
But the other morning, Scott was gone on a retreat
and I was in charge of getting us all up and out the door by 7:00 am.

I was yelling like a drill sergeant...
"Where are your lunches?"
"Do you have your PE clothes?"
"Have you eaten?"
"Have you brushed you teeth?"
"We are going to BE LATE!"

Will came and put a hand on my back.
"Mom, can I pray for you?"
I blinked a couple of times.
"Yes. Please."
He rested his hands on my shoulders.
Then he closed his eyes and said,
"Dear Jesus, Please help my mom not to be cranky. Amen."

He gave my shoulders a little squeeze and then sauntered into the kitchen to grab some toast.
And I....I just stood there.
And felt the stress ease up a bit between my shoulder blades.
And then echoed Will's prayer with another:
"Yes. Please."

I took a deep breath and let that prayer settle into my soul.
It might need a few days to work its way all the way through.
Please keep praying that Jesus will do a mighty work in the cranky places of my heart.
There seem to be an abundance of them.

And not that you need it...
but in case you are in a bit of transition yourself....
or if life feels wild and unpredictable...
or it you just woke up with a crick in your neck and are walking around like C3P0...
don't worry...I've got you....
When Will gets home from school today I'll ask him to say a prayer for you, too.