Joe leaves for a week-long Boy Scout camp on Saturday. I know I’ll ache with missing him but I guess they’ve got to grow up sometime.
And so do we.
Here is a prayer from a book I love: The Christian Mother by Reverend W. Cramer.
Most Merciful God! Thou hast given me this day that I may serve Thee and work out my salvation by the faithful discharge of my duties. Assist me then with Thy grace! Above all, assist me that I may fulfill today the most important and most sacred duties which I owe to my children with care and fidelity, and especially, that I may go before them with light of good example. Bless whatever I may do or say on this day for their education.
Take, O God, my children under the protection of Thy love and grace. Shield them from danger, and keep them far from all evil! Preserve them from sin! Fill their tender hearts with Thy holy love! Awake and incite them with Thy grace, that they may serve Thee faithfully, and grow in virtue and grace before Thee as they grow in age. To you, holy Guardian Angels, and to you, saints in heaven whose names my children bear, I recommend them; take care of them, pray for them.
Amen.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
That is a beautiful prayer, Maggie.
That is a beautiful prayer.
I will be keeping you and Joe in my prayers because I lived through sending off my son to his first time at Boy Scout Camp a couple of weeks ago. Somehow we both survived it.
If your camp offers a family night, go. I wasn’t sure about going, and my son didn’t show any emotion about my arrival, but several of the adult leaders said enough for me to realize he had been missing me and he was worried I wouldn’t make it.
Oh wow. That’s a big step, Maggie (hee!). You know you both will be in our prayers this weekend.
My eldest has gone four times. The first w/out Dad, the next two with Dad, and this one (Mt. Man) w/out Dad. He’s always done fine and come back the cleanest. 🙂
God bless Joe on his journey to growing up into a finer young man!!
Go BSA!!
I’ll be praying for sweet Joe and his poor mama. A week can seem like a very long time. (A weekend stretched for an eternity when E went to FUS.)
I’ll be facing my own struggles as I try to get my late night brood to VBS by 9am each day. Like I said, a week can seem like a very long time. I’ll offer it up pour vous. Without complaint. Maybe.
Merci for the beautiful prayer and reminder of why we do what we do. Love you, Gret!
Beautiful prayer… thanks for sharing!
~Jenny
I will be praying for Joe and mama too while he is gone!
My older son is off to camp this weekend too–his SIXTH summer at Boy Scout camp. My husband always goes along with him, suffering the tent and the heat and the flies and the sleeping-on-the-ground and the no-internet so he can watch Big Brother learn to canoe, water-ski and climb mountains.
Boy Scouting ROCKS.
With my prayers for your boy and his troop–please keep my guys in your prayers as well.
I’m going to copy down that prayer–it’ll definitely be used this week.
Don’t forget to pack the bug spray (Big Brother suggests that your boy soak his cap in it each day. Just a tip from one Scout to another.)
Beautiful prayer. I hope he has a great time, and I’ll keep you in my heart. It’s a big step, momma. Good job. 🙂
I’m sending my son off in a few more weeks. I’m trying not to think about it. I don’t remember giving him permission to grow up.
Lovely prayer..