For this child have I prayed
She came to us bathed in prayer, wrapped in love – an unexpected, much loved, gift
Smiles so bright – can rival the sun
A voice so sweet like a river runs
Brought so much joy, happiness and light
Never imagining the coming fight
For this child have I prayed
Adolescence descended like dark cover
In the fray we barely knew each other
Tears and shouting, fights and screaming
Made me wonder about Motherhood’s meaning
For this child have I prayed
A tearing time, a rendering apart
Now many miles away, where to start?
I promised I would make fly-overs
My helicopter’s searchlight panning past
For this child have I prayed
Then a sight through a clouds
A hand reaching out to touch mine
We connect, if only for a moment
Then flee the fear of familiarity
For this child have I prayed
Then you were here, sad and spent
Wondering where your life had went
We rejoiced to have you back in the fold
And laughed over pranks in days of old
For this child have I prayed
Talking mother to new-mother
Mother to friend
The conversation I prayed to have
Which seemed all so unlikely
God answers prayer – his presence hovers above
Passing over our lives, waiting for us to call to him
To cry out to him in grief and pain and
Sometimes he mends us back again
For this child have I prayed
Breathing a prayer of, “Thank you, Jesus.”
