The Parenting Report

Peaceful view at Plymouth Notch, Vermont. (July 2025) 

I have heard the common saying that we must take time to pray. When I was a young mother, I used to hear that reminder and say to myself, "I am praying all day. What are they talking about?" I was always praying and seeking help and guidance. It was not until recently that I really understood the time and sacrifice it takes to literally take time to pray.

I will liken this to what it is like as a parent praying for one's children. I would pray on the bad days, I would pray when a crisis hit, I would pray for help.  These are all good things, but I missed out on something beautiful. It was a daily lifeline of comfort with something I will call "The Parenting Report."

After I have spent the day babysitting grandchildren, I will give a report of the day to their mother. We will go over the plans and solve problems of what to do next time or how to spend the next day. We enjoy talking about each one of the children and making plans based on each of their personalities and abilities. It is a joy to talk to their mother about them since we both love them so much.

This is exactly what I should be doing each evening with my dear Lord. He loves my children and my grandchildren so dearly. But it requires the sacrifice of time (from what I think I would rather be doing).  Sometimes I am so tired, I can barely pray. I know the Lord hears my heart. But when I plan a time of Scripture reading, meditating and finding joy in the beautiful Word of God, and then get on my knees to talk to my Heavenly Father about each one of my children and grandchildren, this will bring abundant blessings. I can ask for help and guidance for each one. I can pray for wisdom and ask for just the right words and actions to help lead them on the precious path of light. This time with God, as a parenting report of each and every day's events, will bring me the right counsel and strength to do the work of mothering and Grand-mothering with the blessing of my dear Lord.

This time with God reminds me of enjoying phone conversations I used to have with my mother. I would ask for advice about my little ones and she would comfort and encourage me. At other times, I used to walk into the living room to seek help from my Father. He would look up from the Bible he had been reading and give me time and attention to help soothe my worries and turn my attention to help from above.  I walked away from these conversations with a grateful and rested heart.

I want to do this with prayer. I need to make time, at the end of each day, to give a parenting report to my Father in Heaven. I will seek his guidance and comfort. I will give him a great deal of my time. I will not hurry or rush to have the prayer over-with. I will make it a beautiful part of my day; the time I will tell my Lord all about my worries and my joys. I will find peace and rest, knowing that I will not have to do any of this on my own. My Father will take care of it all.  . . He will bless the next generation. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

 From the Archives - 

Inspiration from the Mother of D. L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's.

Learning Thrift from History - Adapting to the High Cost of Living. 

 Peaceful Living - Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking. 

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