The “God-Spot” for Day 15 just didn’t happen. Not that I didn’t see God in my day. He was all over it –at my coffee date with a dear friend, in the conversations with fellow ministry workers, in my Beth Moore Bible study. But the blog post I had started for Day 15 wasn’t at the top of my list by the end of the day. Family needs were. So, I shut down all electronic devices but my phone. I needed to focus on relationship without distraction. It turns out, the blog post I had planned and begun to write showed up in my real world. Now that’s a “God-Spot”.

Praying Circles Around My Children

There were those nights I slipped into my son’s room, knelt by his bed and prayed, my urgent whispers begging God to take up residence in his heart, in his mind. To turn him back to us.

And there have been mornings I rose early, turned on just the one light by my chair and pulled my Bible into my lap. Before the crazy rush of pancakes, chores, school books, piano lessons, basketball. Before the onslaught of laundry and errands. In those quiet early morning moments, in the thick of our child-rearing season, I sought wisdom from God and I prayed. It was the best thing I knew to do.

The days of over-flowing bedrooms, Lego cities strewn across the carpet, drums and guitar rhythms pulsing from our basement — in the quiet of our empty nest, those days are sweet memories. And the four boys who were the target of all the prayers are leading lives in far-flung cities.

And still I pray.

Last night, for a dear one in turmoil, I prayed this…..

“May you grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

And this morning, before my eyes even opened, this…..

“I claim your promises, Lord. My children are yours. I believe in YOUR BEST for them.”

We never stop being “Mom”, do we? They can be 30 with a wife and a career and we still see them as the babes we held in our arms. Wasn’t it just yesterday?

I’ve been praying circles around my boys for years and I don’t expect it to stop now. If you’ve read the legend of Honi the Circle Maker, you know what I’m talking about. Like Honi, I’ve drawn circles and knelt in them, determined not to stop until God answers. Even more so, the prayers I offer up for my children.

Prayers for protection, good health, character, success, relationships.

Though our sons are grown men, I find I’m still drawing the same circles.

“Drawing circles is a metaphor that simply means ‘to pray without ceasing.’ It’s praying until God answers. It’s praying with more intensity, more tenacity. It’s not just praying for, it’s praying through.” Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson

So, I can’t do their laundry any more (well, I could, but I won’t), I’m not making them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or shuttling them to play dates and piano lessons. I’m not doing all those “mom” things that defined me for so many years. But I’m still doing the most important Mom Thing. I’m praying. And I won’t get up until God answers.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)