A prayer for my son

Mama's Prayer

God,

Thank you for this baby boy-for the timing and beauty of his arrival. We acknowledge that you created him and know him- we rest in your power as his Maker and your love as his Father. We praise your mighty works and take comfort in knowing before his days on earth began, every moment of his life was laid out and known to you.

Thank you for entrusting this gift to us. Thank you for being such a good Father, whom we can strive to learn from and love like.

We pray that we grow into this huge task of raising not one, but two children. We pray for Jubes and Pax- for the sweetest friendship, a deep love, and that they would be thick as thieves from now until forever. Give us wisdom and patience and strength as we love them and teach them and model to them in these years. May our home be filled with laughter.

We pray Paxton comes to fully know your love and the power of your peace. We pray he is drawn to your redemption ways and learns the joy of surrendering to you at an early age. May he truly delight in your presence, and earnestly seek you.

May Pax be an instrument of your peace, actively working to bring about the Shalom, the flourishing and wholeness, of all. May he love as you love. May he point the way to you, as a light in the darkness, "showing the way one foot at a time down the path of peace" (Luke 1:79). May he be like his Uncle, a man who chooses joy and delights in the wonder of life, an inextinguishable, tenacious light.

Paxton's Birthday Poem

“To Paxton Ayaanle”

This time of year the whole world stops
To hope and pray for peace on earth,
And strains of carols raise our eyes
To gaze towards that momentous birth.

And yet the Angels that once sung
Of man’s goodwill and of new life
Seem lost, like shadows in the snow
Carved out by endless war and strife.

But as we view your shining face
Our hope awakes anew again
Your humble birth seems holy like
The one who graced that blessed inn.

He ushers in a kingdom aimed
Towards Pax in Terra, but it starts
When we embrace His deep Shalom
And let His peace come heal our hearts.

So as you navigate your path
And know the depth of loss within,
May you find wholeness in His arms
That softens hardened hearts, and then
 
We pray that you would find the strength
To love when men deserve it not,
To hope when justice fails, and to
Wage peace till no more wars are fought.