A Prayer For When Your Child Bullies Another

A Prayer for When Your Child Bullies Another

O God, lover of the oppressor

As well as the victim,

Compassionate toward those who are hurt

As well as those who harm,

Merciful toward the afflicted

As well as those who inflict,

We come to You with fractured hearts,

For our child has perpetuated harm,

And we aren’t sure what to do

Or what to say.

In this moment, we need eyes

To see our child’s heart.

And we pray that the way

We approach this situation

Would not harm or hurt

Or heap more shame

On their soul.

We have seen much goodness in our child,

And now we must grapple with

The pain of what it is

To fully be human,

Not immune to causing harm to another.

Create in our child a spirit of lament

As we talk with them about their words and actions.

Help us listen, and help us guard against judgment.

Help us look for the feelings in what they show us,

And may we sit in those feelings with them.

Let us pay attention to the feelings behind

What they have said or done to harm another,

For we know it’s often when we hurt

That we are most prone to hurt another.

Help this conflict sharpen our ability

To love our child well in this moment,

And may they feel that love in return.

Help us to forgive our child’s transgressions

As You forgive ours.

And help us to guide our child

Through their apologies.

May they be empowered to express remorse

With sincerity and compassion

And admit responsibility

When they’ve been wrong.

May they make amends,

Express repentance,

And make reparations

With our guidance.

Give them ears to listen

To how their words and actions

Have harmed another.

May we always model what it is

To apologize to others

With empathy and grace

So that our children will know that

Apologies are part of what it means

For all of us to be human.

God, parenting is difficult,

And we wish we had all the answers.

But we know we don’t have to,

And what we do have

Is access to a well that won’t run dry.

May we drink of the Living Water

And open our arms wide

To our child as they get lost

And find their way again.

You are the God of fresh starts,

New beginnings,

And a million second chances;

The God of liberation from past mistakes;

The God of forgiveness.

Thank You for always pointing us

Toward love,

Even when we lose our way.

Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:9