A Mother's Prayer

In the spring of 2008, I first prayed for a baby. In the spring of 2011, God answered that prayer with the birth of our beautiful daughter. My joy was full, but so were the fears I wrestled with. In some ways, I felt like a baby Christian again, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, learning and applying what I have known and trusted in to a completely new life. I know I'm definitely not the first to feel that!  

Friends of ours had given us a card when their first baby was born, full of prayer requests for his little life—a prayer for every day of the month. My prayers were not quite as coherent as that, especially at first. But the urgency of the moment drove me to my knees. I prayed “help her, help me” baby prayers at 3 a.m., as I heard the baby monitor light up in the morning, when I thought of her safety, her soul, and her future. I prayed prayers with my husband, and prayers while Eliza listened in.

When people found out I was pregnant, one of the most frequent comments I received was how my creativity would discover a whole new vista of inspiration as I became a mother. So when Eliza came, I was anticipating a fresh flow of profound poetic thought. But instead, I was swept up in the constant flow of changes and feedings and “Old MacDonald Had a farm”!

I was expecting full sentences, but I was blubbering just looking at my beautiful girl! I actually wondered if I'd ever be able to write again. But as I continued to learn the wonderful balancing act and privilege of mothering, homemaking, writing, traveling, and singing, Keith and I began to write a song for Eliza and the end result was “A Mother's Prayer.”

My parents have faithfully prayed for me my whole life. I remember when I was younger my mum met with other mums in a Moms in Prayer group in Belfast to pray for all their children. Even just the knowledge of that helped me, and I want Eliza to know we are praying for her.

We're in the toddler stage now, and some of the prayer needs are shifting. So we wanted the song to reflect the different seasons—ones we had discovered and then those still to come. We also wrote it to remind us of our promise to pray for her through all the years we're given. We hope this song for her—and even more our praying for her—might catch her ear and guide her heart as she grows up.

Before you close your eyes to sleep
I have a promise still to keep
As I hold you in my arms
I pray your little frame grows strong
And that faith takes hope while you are young
This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go
Through the joys, through the years
The journey of these years
May you trust Him till the end
May you trust Him in the end

This world is not as it should be
But the Savior opens eyes to see
All that's beautiful and true
Oh may His light fill all you are
And the jewel of wisdom crown your heart
This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go
Through the joys, through the tears
The journey of these years
He is with us till the end
He is faithful till the end

You'll travel where my arms won't reach
As the road will rise and lead your feet
On a journey of your own
May my mistakes not hinder you
But His grace remain and guide you through
This is my prayer for you

Take His hand and go where He calls you to
And whatever comes, seek Him
With all your heart
This will be my prayer for you

Father hear my ceaseless prayer
Oh keep her in your care

Watch "A Mother's Prayer" music video (and send it to a friend as an ecard).