While You Were Sleeping

It is my privilege as a mother to be able to pray for my children. Our Little Andrew Jonathan will be 7 in December, and Deborah Jolene will be 5 in September; it seems that time just flies by! I want to do all I can in my prayer life and in my personal life so God will put His hand of blessing on my little ones!

I wrote this poem last year. I hope it will encourage you to continue to pray faithfully for your children.

"Then were brought unto HIM little children, that HE should put HIS hands on them, and pray:

and the disciples rebuked them.

But JESUS said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto ME:

for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And HE laid HIS hands on them, and departed thence."

Matthew 19:13-15

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

While you were still sleeping, my dear little one,
I got up out of bed, a little after dawn
So I could have time alone with my Lord
And search for wisdom found in His Word.

While you were still sleeping, of your surroundings unaware
Down on my knees I spent time in prayer
And I asked the Lord to keep you safe throughout the day
As you spent your day in fun and in play.
While you were still sleeping, smiling in your dreams
I prayed and asked God to use you as best to Him seems
And that at an early age He would call you to salvation
And that you’d keep yourself pure in time of temptation.

And while you were still sleeping, content in the warmth of your blanket
I smiled as I thought of you, with hands in your pockets
When you had come up to me, smiling so handsomely and said,
“Mommy, you’re the prettiest lady I’ve never seen,” and patted my head.
And I prayed for you, that God would give you a sweet, submissive wife,
And that she would love and obey you and be a blessing to your life.
I know you’re still small, and these things won’t be for a long time
But even now I pray that you would fulfill God’s sweet purpose divine.

And then you woke up, and we went throughout our day,
That included school, some chores, and, of course, lots of play
And I was reminded as I did my motherly duties in my daily routine
Of the things for which I’d prayed, even for things yet unseen.
And my Lord reminded me that if you come to fulfill the things for which I pray

I will have to be a godly example every moment, every day
Because your heart at this age is so very tender
And for you to see Jesus in me, my will I must surrender.

And so tonight, after you were tucked away in your cozy bed
I kissed you good night as I pushed the hair away from your forehead
And as I walked out of your bedroom I turned out the light
And I smiled as I thought about you, such a delight.
But then before I got into my own warm bed
In prayer I quietly bowed my head
And prayed for forgiveness for my sins of the day
For the things I had done, or for something I might have said.

“Dear Father in Heaven, please help me to remember
That if I’m not careful I might possibly hinder
The work that You want to do in the life of my child
Please never let me be used to plant seed of guile.

Please keep me from making a terrible mistake
Or from living a Christian life that is fake
So that my sweet little boy would want to imitate
Your Own Holy Son, and never forsake
The path that is godly and holy and right,
But would always walk in God’s wisdom and light.”
And again tomorrow, while you are still sleeping
I’ll wake up before you do, and continue speaking
To my Heavenly Father, and ask for His keeping
Over your life, and I’ll believe in the reaping
That will come from countless hours of asking and believing
That God’s promises one day I will be receiving.

.
And when you, my little one, are old enough to understand
Remember that God has something special for you planned
And you have a mother who has prayed for you so
And I’ll continue to pray as you continue to grow.


Written by
Mrs. Anna López
09/November/2009