Dear Lord,

We come to you this day giving you thanks for all the many blessings you have given us.  Thank you Lord for allowing us to meet this day, a special day set aside to come and lift our prayers to you.  Lord, we come to you this morning to uphold the children in our lives, in the community and in the world.  Lord, help us to celebrate the children in our lives: 

Celebrate children:

Who laugh out loud
Who walk in the mud and dawdle in the puddles
Who put chocolate finger anywhere
Who like to be tickled
Who scribble in church
Who whisper in loud voices
Who sing in louder voices
Who run – and laugh when they fall
Who cry at the top of their lungs
Who cover themselves with Band-Aids
Who squeeze the toothpaste all over the bathroom
Who slurp their soup
Who ask questions
Who give us sticky, paste-covered creations
Who want their pictures taken
Who don’t use napkins
Who bury their goldfish, sleep with the dog, scream at their best friends
Who hug us in a hurry and rush outside without their hats

Let us celebrate children who are so busy living they don’t have time for hang-ups and let us celebrate adults who are as little children. 

Lord, help us to bless these children.  Help us to recognize that every child has been created for a greater thing – to love and be loved.  Help us Lord, to accept them, love them, praise them, and to be proud of them.  Help us to realize that we are their caretakers, role models, teachers, and friends. 

In a world that is too busy for children, help us to slow down and take care of our children.  Lord, bless all children – for without the child there is no hope. 

Bless the children:

Who are sick
Who are suffering
Who have disabilities
Who come from broken homes
Who are poor
Who are struggling with who they are
Who have missed their childhood because of the circumstances surrounding their lives
Who don’t see their parents enough
Who don’t know their families

Lord, we come to you asking for your blessing to all children – asking you to be with those who come into contact with all children and that all children may know you and recognize you through the people you have placed in their lives.   Help us this day to celebrate children and to know they are the future.  Let us all live like children – having no difficulty in loving and no obstacles to love.  Thank you Lord for sending us your child, Jesus Christ, who taught us how to love and accept all of your children as you would have us do. 

We come to you this day celebrating and asking for your blessing to all children – in your son’s Holy name – Amen.