Walk With Me
On Saturday afternoon, she invited me to walk the shoreline with her.
“Just you and me, Mommy,” my littlest girl had said while her siblings leaped over the waves in the water and built towering sandcastles in the sand.
“Let’s walk like this–”
She slipped her sandy fingers through mine and tugged at my hand.
I followed her lead and adjusted my long strides to her skipping steps. And together we painted a trail of footprints all along the water’s edge.
When her legs had grown tired and our toes were caked with sand, Maggie dropped my hand and wrapped her arms around my middle.
“Thanks for walking with me, Mommy,” she said. And then with a happy sigh, she added, “Let’s ALWAYS walk together, ok?”
I smiled and nodded and returned her playful squeeze.
But when my littlest girl raced back into the water to play with her big sisters, I had to catch my breath and swallow that uninvited lump of sacred sadness rising in my throat.
Because I know that my daughter won’t always invite me to walk with her. And I’m thankful that, for the moment, her little feet still thrill to my steps.
Maybe that’s why today I dug out this old poem and glued it to the inside cover of my prayer journal. Because I need a daily reminder that I won’t get to walk right beside my children forever. But Jesus will.
And I’m praying that every step I take will point my treasured ones toward Him!
Walk With Me
Right now my busy feet
are always on the go.
They run and jump and play,
as you already know.
But these footprints won’t stay little long;
soon I will be grown,
And my not-so-tiny feet will blaze
a trail all of their own.
So take my hand while you still can
and stroll the road I trod.
Point me to the path that leads
straight to the heart of God.
Introduce me to the One
whose hand is not too small
To catch me when I stumble,
to hold me when I fall.
Teach me me to stand securely
on God’s promises of grace,
To fix my eyes on Jesus
and to faithfully run my race.
Walk beside me now
while I’m here within your care.
Share my steps and share your heart;
anoint my feet with prayer.
Show me how to live my life
according to God’s word
So that my stride is humble;
my salvation is assured.
Then when this journey leads me
down a road that’s far from home,
You’ll know without a doubt
that I will never walk alone.
My children are all adults now. I do have an 18 year old granddaughter. We talk occasionally, I told her she needs to have a relationship with Jesus. I still worry about my adult children. I’m praying that my two daughters will come to have a relationship with Jesus. I have made decision that were not all that wise when I was raising them. Despite that they both love and respect me. My son is mentally challenged. I have a great- granddaughter, that is a year old. I am going to do all I can to make sure she gets to Christ from an early age. My grandson her father is incarcerated at this time I need prayer for him. I know Christ now and pray for them daily.
Please pray for my 14 year old daughter. She is a great kid but challenges and peer pressure are hard at this age. Please pray for protection and guidance in a world full of temptations and keep her safe! I’m concerned for her as she gets older. Thank you💖
Hi Alicia,
Those moments hand in hand with our sweet kids are so precious, huh?! My 7 year old and I still do that, and I’m thrilled when my tall lanky teens wrapping their arms around me for a hug too.
My prayer for them tonight is that they rest unchanging in the truth of God’s deep delight in them.
Savoring those,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
It’s not easy typing, with tears flooding my eyes. Your lovely poem and heart-warming words about your daughter on the beach were so touching!
My 8-year old stepson is asleep on the couch between his daddy and I, right now. My prayer is that hubby and I will be so filled with Jesus that we reflect Him in all we do and that spills on to this boy and influences him more than the world and the TV and video games that he absorbs when he is not with us (50% of the time).
I add my prayers to yours for the mamas who wrote before. May we all have the privilege of seeing our children walking with Jesus.
That was a beautiful poem!! My daughter is 16 and has decided she is not a Christian. She has been going to church and Sunday School since she was two. My prayer is for my daughter to realize Jesus is real and that he is right there by her side. Almost every morning I say a prayer to God about this and try to find ways to show her how much He loves her.
Oh, Judy, I can’t imagine how your heart must be hurting as your daughter tries to “figure out” her faith and her beliefs. I will stand beside you in prayer and ask Jesus to gently woo her back to His heart. And I will ask Him to be near to you as well, to give you hope and peace and provision as you walk this bumpy road with your daughter. Thanks for inviting us to pray with you.
My son is 27, married with two beautiful children of his own. I would treasure your prayers for him and his family. Particularly prayers for peace so that the Army Reserve doesn’t send him to war. Blessings to you and your family. ♡
Dear Alicia
My almost 3 year old daughter has just started preschool two days back… The past two days have been a bit difficult for her and for me as she is just getting adjusted to the new setting and environment…. I know that that soon she’ll be alright, but until then my heart melts when I see her cry every time I drop her…. Just praying to the Lord to watch over her as she goes through this milestone…….
Dear Anna, please know that your precious girl WILL adjust, make new friends and end up loving school. This is God’s way of preparing her and you for bigger growth in the future. I understand it’s not easy on a mommas heart, but with the strength and grace of the Lord, you will both survive and even thrive!
Be encouraged! It does get easier. 🙂 ♡
Anna, I am praying for you both. Change can be so hard. I am asking Jesus to give both you and your little girl His peace and His presence as you both adjust to this new school adventure.