I want to begin this by saying before I ever get to the point where I am lifting each of you up in prayer, I spend a significant amount of time praising Him for the parents that each of you are. I have an abundance of gratefulness for all of the wonderful memories that we have made together and the lessons that you have taught me. What a wonderful blessing He has given me in the example that you each stand as His followers.

These are my prayers for you:

I pray for your growth in the Lord. I pray that each of you will not grow stagnant in your walk or feel as if you have reached a stopping point. I pray that you will continue to seek Him without holding back. Follow Him without any hindrances. Listen to His voice and His word despite personal sacrifices that must be made.

I pray for the peace that only comes from Him. I pray that each of you continue to live in that peace every day. I pray that His peace encompasses and covers you regardless of any trial that you may be going through. (For example, when your kids going to college.)

I pray for your joy. I pray that every single day that you face is met with a joy that can only come from living in the freedom of Christ. I pray that it reaches and . expands to reach all the people you come in contact with. I know that it has and will continue to always reach, inspire, and teach me.

I pray for the way that each of you love people. When I think of love, I think of how Jesus loved, and I think about how each of you have truly taught and loved me in a way that you only could through the Father. You truly embody His self-sacrificing love, and I pray that you may each share that with more and more people every single day. Oh, how amazing the world would be if they got to experience the love that you have each shown me.

I pray that each of you will not grow weary in serving the Lord. I pray that each of you wake up with a renewed spirit to do His will and seek Him more and more each day. I pray that you never get tired of running this race, but instead you run it even more intensely and fiercely with your eyes never straying from His goodness.

I pray that you each know how so incredibly much I love, adore, admire, respect, and delight in you. You sacrificed so much for me. You have worked, and you have cared for me, and you have cherished me. You have made me the woman that I am today. You have taught me how to handle triumphs with class and how to handle failures with grace. You have taught me how to apply myself to what I am working on to the fullest extent. You taught me how to admit when I was wrong (Daddy). You have taught me to stand up for what I believe in (Mom). You have taught me how to learn from situations and seek knowledge in books. You have taught me how to cook and do laundry.

You taught me how to fish and garden (kind of?). You have attempted to teach me how to change a tire and how to drive stick shift. You have provided for me above and beyond. You have guided me and shown me the way to the Lord. I pray that you will always know how much you are loved and appreciated by me. Please know that I do not take your love for granted. I love you, and I am praying for each of you always.