The most terrifying night of my life was in Kenya, East Africa as my first born daughter (18 moths) lay sick in a hospital crib. Steve and I were missionaries at the time and Bethany had caught both a virus and a bacterial infection and the Dr.’s were stumped. So there lay my precious daughter in an African hospital sick and listless. I remember peering over that crib and praying, “God, please, please show the Dr.’s what to do!”  I was pregnant with our son at the time and every hour I ran down the hall to vomit in the bathroom. Meanwhile, listless in the crib, Bethany was losing ground. As I lay on the cot next to her crib listening to the cacophony of African sounds, I made the most pivotal decision of my parenting career. I got off the cot and down on to my knees.  As I knelt their before the Lord with tears streaming down my face, I prayed, “Oh Lord, I love this little girl more than life. She is such a precious gift you have given to Steve and I, but Lord, tonight I surrender her to you. (I remember opening my hands in a gesture of surrender) whether you take her to be with you or allow us to keep her, I will choose to praise you.”

Peace didn’t com right away but, eventually I feel asleep on that dirty cot. The next day I went back to the guest house in Nairobi to take a shower and STeve came to stay with Bethany. When I arrived back at the hospital, Steve was super excited!  A monkey had come to Bethany’s window and for the first time in four days, she sat up and looked out the window and shouted excitedly, “Monkey! God had graciously healed our daughter.

The Psalmist, David, wrote, “Every good thing I have comes from you!” (Psalm 16:2 NLV) Our children are a precious gift from God. As mother’s we love them beyond imagination but ultimately we must surrender them to the Lord, because they are a gift from God. They are not ours to keep, control or idolize.  They are ours to surrender for God to use for HIs glory.

Today, whether your child is a toddler, teen or adult, maybe you need to pray this prayer of surrender, “Lord Jesus, you know how much I love this child (put in their name) but this child belongs to you. I surrender this child to you. Whether you answer my prayers in a way that makes me happy or not, I will choose to praise you.”

Today, I’ll be giving away 2 copies of Be the Mom by Tracey Eyster from Family Life. https://www.facebook.com/BeTheMom But, You must leave a comment to be able to be in the drawing to win.