At nearly three years of age, my son struggles with childhood apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder in which the brain has trouble planning movements of the different parts of the mouth and coordinating the muscle movements that are needed for speech. A child knows what he wants to say, but cannot figure out how to say it. With intense speech therapy, we are hopeful that it will be mostly resolved before he finishes elementary school, but no parent wants to see their child struggle with something so basic for so long. This is my prayer for him.
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Dear Lord,
Bless my son's mind. He is so smart! Help him not to doubt this in himself and help others to not think less of him just because he doesn't say much.
Bless my son's ears. The old proverb about listening twice as much as we speak is doubly true for him. Help him learn to listen better than most, and to hear what people don't always take the time to say.
Bless my son's eyes. They are so beautiful and say so much! Help him to notice the hurts of others, and to let them shine to share his heart with others.
Bless my son's mouth. He uses it to smile and laugh all the time, but it is a source of frustration because he can't make it move the way he wants to in order to make his thoughts known. Let him find peace with it as he learns.
Bless my son's voice. I used to wonder what it would sound like and now, at last, I know, even if a lot of it is still babbling. Help him as he learns to use it and control it, especially to someday sing Your praises.
Bless my son's hands. For now, they are his voice in the world, using Sign to share his needs and desires. Make them strong, but gentle.
Bless my son's heart. Shield it from too much hurt, from those who tease or insult for lack of understanding. Fill it with tenderness for others who have their own struggles.
Bless my son's knees. Skinned though they are, from normal little boy antics, they are precious to me, for they carry him to You, as he kneels in prayer, a prayer that I can't understand, but You can.
Bless my son's feet. As they carry him through the world, let him run to help others because he knows what it is to need help. Let him stand up for right and wrong with the persistence he is developing as he learns to speak. And let him walk with You, the One who knows every word on his tongue long before he says them (Psalm 139:4)...no matter how long it takes.
And one more, Lord. Bless my son's mother. It is so hard for me to see him struggle, and yet I know that the struggle is what enables the caterpillar to soar on butterfly wings. May I be the cheerleader, the coach, the advocate, and the mom he needs me to be to become the man You created Him to be.
In Your name, and for Your glory.
Amen.
Bless my son's mind. He is so smart! Help him not to doubt this in himself and help others to not think less of him just because he doesn't say much.
Bless my son's ears. The old proverb about listening twice as much as we speak is doubly true for him. Help him learn to listen better than most, and to hear what people don't always take the time to say.
Bless my son's eyes. They are so beautiful and say so much! Help him to notice the hurts of others, and to let them shine to share his heart with others.
Bless my son's mouth. He uses it to smile and laugh all the time, but it is a source of frustration because he can't make it move the way he wants to in order to make his thoughts known. Let him find peace with it as he learns.
Bless my son's voice. I used to wonder what it would sound like and now, at last, I know, even if a lot of it is still babbling. Help him as he learns to use it and control it, especially to someday sing Your praises.
Bless my son's hands. For now, they are his voice in the world, using Sign to share his needs and desires. Make them strong, but gentle.
Bless my son's heart. Shield it from too much hurt, from those who tease or insult for lack of understanding. Fill it with tenderness for others who have their own struggles.
Bless my son's knees. Skinned though they are, from normal little boy antics, they are precious to me, for they carry him to You, as he kneels in prayer, a prayer that I can't understand, but You can.
Bless my son's feet. As they carry him through the world, let him run to help others because he knows what it is to need help. Let him stand up for right and wrong with the persistence he is developing as he learns to speak. And let him walk with You, the One who knows every word on his tongue long before he says them (Psalm 139:4)...no matter how long it takes.
And one more, Lord. Bless my son's mother. It is so hard for me to see him struggle, and yet I know that the struggle is what enables the caterpillar to soar on butterfly wings. May I be the cheerleader, the coach, the advocate, and the mom he needs me to be to become the man You created Him to be.
In Your name, and for Your glory.
Amen.
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