Happy Mother’s Day to the moms doing work that nobody claps for enough. For the late nights and early mornings. For the car rides, the appointments, the school meetings, the grocery runs, the prayers whispered over sleeping babies. For the disrespect you had to correct while still trying not to lose yourself. For the moments you felt inadequate but still got up and did what needed to be done. To the mom with no support. To the mom whose husband is present but still not really helping. To the mom dealing with a baby father who acts like parenting is optional. To the single mom carrying what was supposed to be shared. To the military wife holding the house down while he’s away. To the mom whose husband, boyfriend, or child’s father never showed up the way he should have. I see you. To the mom standing up to school systems. To the mom fighting discrimination. To the mom advocating for a child with ADHD, autism, tics, anxiety, sensory needs, or neurodivergence. To the mom whose child doesn’t have a diagnosis yet, but deep down you know something is different and you’re fighting to be heard. I see you too. To the mom with stretch marks. To the mom with the C-section scar. To the mom who pushed out an 8-pound baby and still somehow had to get up and be somebody’s whole world. To the mom healing from birth, grief, trauma, disappointment, and still making breakfast. Baby, crowns off. Hats off. Heels off. Sneakers off. TOOO YOUUUUU Because motherhood is not soft work. It is holy work. It is unseen work. It is exhausting work. It is sacrifice, prayer, tears, laughter, correction, forgiveness, and getting back up over and over again. And no, you don’t always get it right. But you keep showing up. So today, I pray somebody loves on you. I pray somebody sees you. I pray somebody gives you rest without making you ask for it 15 times. I pray God reminds you that your labor is not invisible to Him. Happy Mother’s Day, mama. You are doing more than you think. And you are loved more than you know.

A lot of us keep correcting the meltdown, the attitude, the whining, the begging, and the disrespect that comes after we say no. But have we trained our children how to receive “no”? Because “no” is not abuse.“No” is not rejection.“No” is not you being mean.“No” is not the end of love. “No” is a boundary. And children need to be trained on what to do when they don’t get the answer they wanted. So instead of only saying: “Stop crying.”“Stop begging.”“Don’t talk back.”“Why are you acting like that?” Train the response. You can say: “I know you don’t like my answer. You can be disappointed, but you cannot be disrespectful.” Then teach them what to do next. 1. Name the feeling “I’m mad.”“I’m sad.”“I’m disappointed.”“I wanted a yes.” 2. Respect the answer “The answer is no.”“I don’t have to like it, but I do have to respect it.” 3. Calm the body Take a breath.Walk away.Sit down.Get quiet for a moment. 4. Try again with respect “Okay, Mom.”“Can I ask again another time?”“I’m disappointed, but I understand.” This is training. Not giving in because they cried. Not arguing because they begged. Not changing the answer because they got loud. Training. Because if our children cannot handle “no” at home, the world will not be gentle teaching it to them later. They need to learn: I can be disappointed and still be respectful.I can feel upset and still obey.I can want something and still accept a boundary.I can hear “no” and not fall apart. And parents, we have to model this too. When God tells us no, do we tantrum in our own way? Do we complain?Do we rush ahead?Do we get bitter?Do we stop praying? Sometimes we are asking children to handle “no” better than we handle it with God. So today, train it. When your child asks for something and the answer is no, don’t just drop the no and walk away. Say: “I’m going to help you practice receiving no.” Then use this script: “I’m disappointed, but I can handle no.” Have them repeat it. They’re learning emotional strength. Question for today:

Kingdom parents, before this week starts, don’t just plan your schedule. Cover your home. Pray these out loud, save them, come back to them, and speak them over your family this week. A prayer for the week ahead Lord, I give You this week before I try to carry it by myself. Go before me. Order my steps. Help me not to move from stress, fear, or frustration. Give me wisdom for every decision, patience for every challenge, and peace for every moment that tries to overwhelm me. Let this week be covered by You. In Jesus’ name, amen. A prayer for my children Lord, cover my children. Protect their minds, their hearts, their bodies, and their spirits. Help them know they are loved, seen, and valuable. Teach them Your voice early. Surround them with the right people and remove anything trying to pull them away from You. Help me parent them with wisdom, not fear. In Jesus’ name, amen. A prayer for my teen Lord, cover my teen in this season. When they are confused, guide them. When they are tempted, strengthen them. When they are overwhelmed, comfort them. When they are questioning, meet them with truth. Help me not to parent my teen from panic. Help me listen, lead, correct, and love with Your wisdom. Let my teen know You are real, present, and trustworthy. In Jesus’ name, amen. A prayer for myself Lord, I need You too. Sometimes I pour out so much that I forget I’m still healing. Help me not to lose myself in parenting, pressure, and responsibility. Restore me where I am tired. Heal me where I am wounded. Correct me where I am wrong. Strengthen me where I am weak. Help me become the parent You are calling me to be, without forgetting that I am still Your child too. In Jesus’ name, amen. A prayer to cover my house Lord, cover this home. Let peace live here. Let love live here. Let forgiveness live here. Let Your presence be felt here. Anything that brings confusion, chaos, fear, division, or heaviness, we ask You to remove it. Teach us how to speak to each other. Teach us how to forgive each other. Teach us how to honor You in this house.

Lord praying for every family represented here. Let the prayers we are praying for our children touch the lives of them and the lives of those they come into contact with. Let the seeds we plant bloom for generations. Let our children be light to the world. Lord give us all strength to endure, to not become complacent, and to always see the value in pouring into our babies. Thank you, Father.

A. You feel bad after giving consequences B. You’re tired and don’t have the energy C. Your child keeps pushing back D. You and your spouse are not on the same page E. You didn’t grow up seeing healthy discipline Drop the letter below.