A Prayer

My daughter Tara, while she was in college, talked to me sometimes about a missionary woman that she admired. A lot. I think she inspired her. Her name was Amy Carmichael. Some time ago I found a prayer that Amy wrote that really spoke to my heart. I made copies of it and I keep them in my home and my office. I pray it often. The amazing thing to me is that Amy never prayed this prayer for her own children - she never had any. But it is obvious that she had a mother's heart. She prayed this prayer for the children she loved in India. The children she gave of herself to. The girls she rescued from prostitution. Amy was just a plain, ordinary every-day kind of woman who allowed Jesus to love and care for others through her human self. She went through times of loneliness, despair, victory, rejoicing, doubt and depression. Ultimately she did what God called her to do. She lived her life well. She is a great role model for women today.

Father, hear us, we are praying.
Hear the words our hearts are saying.
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil.
From the secret, hidden peril.
Father, hear us for our children.

From the whirlpool that would suck them
From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them.
Father, hear us for our children.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Father, Father keep our children.

Through life's troubled waters steer them.
Through life's bitter battle cheer them.
Father, Father, be Thou near them.

I just wanted to share that prayer today. It means a lot to me.