Christmas is one of my most favorite times of the year. The excitement that fills our home as we partake in family traditions, the joy that fills our hearts as we participate in acts of giving and the desire to praise my Father even more for His grace, His mercies and His gift to the world.

This week I shared a photo on Instagram of myself and my family. I wrote how thankful I was that God loved us so much He sent His Son. I also shared that I was thankful that He loved me so much He gave me my family.

When you really think about it, as parents one of the most precious gifts we can ever receive is the gift of a child. To have the honor of being a parent bestowed upon us is humbling, at times terrifying and also joy inducing.

There are times when I want to pull my hair out, times when I lie awake at night and worry that I’m doing it all wrong. But more than that, there are times when I find myself thanking God for allowing me to mother two of His most precious creations. I find myself rejoicing in the gift of parenthood.

I find myself praying and asking Him to direct our path as parents, to give us the words, the patience and the wisdom. To help me as a mother, who is obsessed with her babies, remember that they are my children — yes they are mine — but they belong to Him. Their lives are meant to bring glory to Him. They will be kingdom builders. They are kingdom builders.

When I really think of God’s sacrifice and the fact that He sent His only Son that we might have life I find myself having a wow moment.

I am imperfect, I make mistakes and I am certain at times I disappoint Him. But through it all He loves me. He forgives me and never forsakes me. He wants to give me the desires of my heart. He wants the best for me and sometimes that means He has to tell me “no.” That also means sometimes helping me to realize that I do need Him, during those times when I forget and try to do it all on my own.

I think of the way God loves us and I desire to always love my children in that way; a love that always forgives, a love that says “yes” but also says “no.” A love that is so steadfast and so true that my babies know that no matter what happens I will be there with open arms. The way my God never turns us away even when we mess up or go astray.

This season I find myself thanking God with even more fervor for the gift of His Son — His only Son. And at the same time I thank Him for trusting me to care for the two children that He blessed me and my husband with. I want Him to know that I don’t take my role as their mother lightly. That’s my job, and it isn’t just to enjoy them but to prepare and equip them to thrive in life. Our babies only have one childhood. This is our chance.

So I’m stepping it up and part of that includes changing the way I pray. I am also learning to be still so that I can hear from my Father as I seek His guidance in all things including parenting.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” ~ James 1:17 (NIV)

And how He loves us. Look at all He has given us. I have a chance to show our gratitude not just in the saying of thanks but by giving this parenting thing everything I’ve got. Knowing that it may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it (along with being a wife to my husband of course) will also be the greatest and most honorable.

Here are 10 Bible verses to pray over your children….