Psalm 20 - A Mother's Prayer

Psalm 20

The Lord to hear the end the day of trouble; the name of the god of Jacob defend thee.Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners; the Lord fulfill all thy petitions.

I love this psalm, it's voice of prayer. I'm glad we still use the King James version of the Bible. It's poetic words are so beautiful.  I feel like I pray these words every night.

My husband and I just this last year decided to devote our evening prayers to people for whom we should be praying. We kneel by the bed and take a couple of minutes to think of all those we know who need the Lord's blessing. Most of the time those prayers are for our family. Often they are for friends and all too often of late it is for those affected by hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes.

But most often the prayers are for our family and usually for our children.

 How hard it is to watch your children face their own problems. We give birth and spend those early years rocking the baby, pacing the floor hoping he or she will fall asleep. The warmth and comfort of our arms soothes our little ones. As they grow we change our tactics but we are still their protectors to whom they run when they are hurt and need comfort.

Then all too soon they are teens and the problems become more difficult. Band-Aids and hugs no longer solve these problems. They are moving into the adult world that is not so kind as to childhood world.

As a parent you find yourself on your knees often, seeking guidance, wanting to help your kids but not knowing how. Hugs still help but principles need to be taught and unconditional love needs to be expressed and our children must find their own way.

We start asking questions of ourselves. Did I teach them enough?  Do they know the gospel is true? Are they praying - did I instill that in them? What more could I have done?

And then they are off - off on missions, off to college, married, having children. They have become adults with lives of their own. We are no longer there to help and guide. It's time for them to find their own way.

But we are still the parents. We love them more than anyone and always will. We watch them, we know their struggles. Often we are hearing their heartaches. Life is so full of challenges. We find ourselves so often on our knees. We know how the Lord has helped us over the years and we trust He will now help them.

This psalm of prayer in plain words says: 

"Lord, hear my children's prayers and help them. They are so good. They deserve thy help. Please grant their desires and let us rejoice together as we recognize Thy hand."

That is a mother's prayer, said over and over, in so many ways, by so many mothers all over the world.