The Presentation: a Prayer for Parents

They're young yet, but ever since they were really young, my husband and I have enjoyed thinking about our kids’ futures.  Those late night conversations where we speculate about what they will be like as they grow up.  The sensitive guy in the corner of the library.  The spunky girl in the middle of the party.  The determined gal leading the mountain-climbing expedition.  And What they will be.  The engineer.  The elementary school zoo field trip tour guide.  The senator.  What does the future hold for these unique little personalities we watch unfold?  Creativity.  Friendship.  Adventure. 

But no matter what I envision our children’s futures to look like, or what I hope they might hold, I am continuously left with the reality that it is all out of my control.  And I am faced with the realization that it may not all be beautiful. 

Yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord.  The day in which we recalled how Mary and Joseph took their new child to the Temple to entrust him to GOD, where Simeon and Anna proclaimed his destiny (Luke 2:22-40).  And as an extension of that destiny, also proclaimed Mary’s: “and you yourself a sword will pierce.” 

A mother’s nightmare, to hear about the challenges ahead for her child.  The prayed-against truth of the heartbreak she will suffer as she watches her child’s fate unfold.  Every parent’s worst fear – an un-easy road ahead for the little life they love so much. Nothing pierces my heart more. 

And yet this is the reality for many parents in our world.  Those fleeing danger, those separated from their children, those pierced by violence.  Those still longing (aching) to be parents, those facing complications for their unborn child, those pierced by the loss of a life they had only begun to know.  Those living in poverty, those living on the fringes, those pierced with the harsh realities of want.  Those facing disabilities, those facing serious illness, those pierced by the knowledge that their child’s dreams of being a fireman or a ballerina may not come true. Those facing bullies, those facing being cut from the team, those pierced by the look of sadness and disappointment on their child's face. 

In all corners of the globe (and corners of our communities) there are parents who live daily with the reality that their child’s future may not be all beautiful.  And though it differs in severity, all of us parents face the truth that our children’s future will have challenges, and that both the struggle and the triumphs of whatever is in store for them is out of our control.  No late night conversation between spouses filled with hopes and dreams and wonder and laughter at our little ones’ days to come has the ultimate say on our child’s destiny.  They may be destined for great and glorious things.  They may be destined for pain and struggle.  They may be destined for both, sometimes inseparably.  We are not Simeon or Anna; we do not know. 

We can only ask that The One Who Does Know Their Destiny will help us trust and pray.  

And though I know it is out of my control, that doesn't stop me from dreaming that my children's future may look something like this: “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon [them]”  (Luke 2:40).  

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A Parent's Prayer on this Feast of the Presentation:

Heavenly Father,

on this Feast of the Presentation of our Lord,

I recall the gift Mary and Joseph gave to the world by offering baby Jesus to You in the temple.

I offer up to You all the children in my family.

I place them into Your perfect will and I turn their futures over to You.

Help me to let go of my ideas of what they should do in their lives,

and show me how to guide them into the purposes for which You created them.

Help me to learn from the example of the Blessed Mother, whose heart was pierced by the sword of her Son's pain,

how to always trust in Your plans.

Holy Family, pray for us.

Amen.

(Anonymous)