Prayer of a Tired Mother

They are asleep, O God, and I am tired; and I want the hush of a half hour with Thee; I want to bathe my soul in the infinite, as workers with dust and sweat plunge into the sea.

Let my hot heart feel Thy vastness, my muddy mind lose itself in Thy crystal wisdom, my bruised love be healed in the waters of Thy love, so calm and deep.

God, I could not bear to be a mother another day if I thought I should be called to account for all mistakes. I would never seek Thee unless I thought Thou wert as forebearing and loveblind as I; but because my own children never come to me without my heart leaping to meet them, so I learn to be very bold toward my Father which is in Heaven. I am all faults, my love trips up my wisdom and my care breeds worry. My sense of expediency makes me disloyal to truth.

One has to be very great and good to be a mother. No one short of God himself could be equal to it, but I love them, God, and I love to climb beside Thy seat.

Teach me Thine own wondrous skill and in due time I may also learn to wait and to suffer and by loving wisdom to circumvent.

I know it is of no avail to tell them anything. I know their little eyes are sharp and see my soul and they copy me; therefore make me good, good in my deepest purpose, good in my desires.

Make me all I want them to be; strong, true, and great hearted. Save me from the irritation of little things.

Give me the inspiring long vision, the sense of perspective so that I may judge between essentials and non-essentials.

Let me be a real mother to my children, mending their souls and fancies, and helping weave their dreams as well as attending to their bodies. Help me to learn wisdom from their dear humanities; the secret of trust in Thee from their trust in me, and keep them from harm. Let them grow up sound and unspoiled, and let them always love me.

Amen.

by Laura Brunner Scott