Pray for boldness and opportunities to share the Gospel with these children and their biological families
Pray for biological children living in the home, and for foster children moving in, to transition well
I do not know how I am to pray for this child
As a mother I don't want my baby denied
But in the waiting in the waiting
I learned
Every instinct in me wants to shield him from pain
Take the arrows of misery heartache and blame
But in the sorrow in the sorrow
I learned to hold on
I only have two eyes – be all seeing
I only have two hands – be everywhere
I do not know enough – to be all knowing
I give this baby up into your care
I do not know how, how to pray for this child
I want to guard her from everything wicked and wild
but in the trial in the trial
I learned to hold on
And in the trial, in the trial
I learned to hold on to the heart of God
Dear Joseph, foster father of Jesus
and protector of the Holy Family,
in you we contemplate
a model of courage and compassion.
Help us be more courageous
in making space for God in our lives,
so we may be better guardians of the vulnerable,
especially the children and their families
seeking our care.
As we contemplate your role,
alongside the Blessed Virgin Mary,
as first teacher of the faith to Jesus,
may we recognize our own call
to live with conviction and fidelity
God's mercy and faithfulness.
Help us to be more compassionate,
so we may be present and faithful to all,
but especially to those children
whose lives are chaotic, anxiety-filled
and too often marred by violence.
As we contemplate the Holy Family's moments
of stress in Jesus' young life – your betrothal
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, your flight to Egypt,
losing Jesus in the Temple –
may we recognize our own call
to give tender care and protection
to those whom God brings to us.
Help us to be strong and wise in our faith,
yet tender and open to love, as you were.
May God grant that our families,
including our parish family,
be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel.
Amen.
Pray that foster parents would have patience and learn how to best take care of the kids in their homes.
As foster parents, we lean upon God for strength to help these children battle the many emotional, physical, and psychological challenges they face. Along with this, we pray that we are able to love these children with the unconditional love they so dearly need.