Steadfast God,

This week, as our family takes some time to 

settle into a new seasonal rhythm  

I open my hands and ask for your grace. 

We need your grace to prevail 

over stress and fatigue, over the 

jolt of shifting from one season to another. 

There is so much I can’t control as a parent,

so much I can’t anticipate or plan for,

and just as I tell my kids: the only thing

I can control is how I respond. 

Yet, in times of change I often become 

a child myself, complaining and grumbling 

and setting a terrible example for my kids. 

Forgive me, Lord. 

Help me love my family well this week,

holding routines and expectations loosely 

as I adjust to what this fall holds for us. 

Take a moment to pray for the specific cares and needs of your family. 

You, Father, are our anchor and our home,

our source of love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, and self-control. 

May we lean on you for all that our family needs. 

Amen.