Years and years ago when my kids were still little, I came across this prayer in a newspaper (might have been Our Sunday Visitor), that a mom said she prayed every night after tucking her kids into bed. It was something like “Lord, fill the gaps” that she missed even though she was trying to be a good mom. It was a short prayer, maybe 7-8 sentences long, and I cut it out to learn it but lost it shortly thereafter. It was a Catholic prayer. The paper was published in the 90s.
I posted the above in one of my moms’ groups, however, no one has been able to provide me with the original prayer, so I decided to write my own.
A Mother’s Prayer
Lord, as I sit here beside my sleeping child
I ponder the day and am faced yet again
With my inadequacies.
You have blessed me with this task of motherhood
And I thank You for this great gift
But at the end of the day,
I am often overwhelmed with all the things
that I was unable to do, all that I still need to do.
I know that You love my children, Lord,
More than I ever could
And You give them everything they need
Even when I can’t.
I know that I am Your eyes, hands, and feet in this world, Lord,
So I ask that You continue to give me the grace
To love them with everything I am and have and do.
But I also ask You, Lord, to fill the gaps where I am lacking
Because I am not enough to fill their every need.
When my children are angry
Give them Your peace.
When my children are weak
Give them Your strength.
When my children are hurting
Give them Your comfort.
When they are feeling unloved
Give them Your love.
Fill their hearts with the joy and tenderness
That only You can give them.
I ask all this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother,
In the Holy Spirit,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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