I have been reading Tosha Silver’s Change Me Prayers, and that book has transformed the way I pray. Tomorrow, after a week of spring break, my kids return to distance learning. The first two weeks of distance learning were challenging. I was feeling tense about the end of spring break and then thought, I should write myself a prayer. Without further adieu, here is my prayer:
Divine Beloved,
Please change me so I can trust the journey of distance learning.
Please change me so I can figure out what the heck I am doing!
Please change me so that I can trust my intuition. I already know what works for my family. I just need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and listen to my heart.
Please change me so that I remember my children’s well-being is more important than anything we might accomplish with distance learning.
Please change me so that I stop comparing the way “distance learning” looks for my kids with the way it looks for others. Please help me remember that we are all radiantly and gloriously different and that is wonderful. This is not a competition. We are all doing what we need to do to thrive during these challenging times. Please change me so that I can lovingly follow my children’s lead.
Please help me keep my heart open.
Please change me so that when I get frustrated, I remember to take a break, breathe deeply, and do something to ground myself.
Please change me so I can be more loving and compassionate with myself and my kids. Let me be kind and gentle.
Please change me so I can be more flexible. Sometimes my expectations with what we can accomplish are a bit too, shall we say, grandiose. Other times I plan a schedule and freak out when we stray off course. Please change me so I can embrace the uncertainty of this adventure.
Please change me so that I remember my kids are always learning, especially when they are playing.
Please change me so that I remember this: before math, or reading, or writing, or anything else, I am right now teaching my kids how to live during difficult times. Please change me so I can do this with grace, love and laughter.
Please change me so I can fully surrender to this experience and all the opportunities for personal growth.
I am yours.
You are mine.
Hallelujah!
Amen.
Note to self: let’s print this and read it every morning before I embark upon the adventure of distance learning.