Free Will

God has given to each one of us
the gift of free will.
We are free, each day,
to choose good
or evil,
to live lives of love
or selfishness,
to live with God
or without God.

God has given us
the gift to choose.

As a parent
I have watched
as each one of my children in turn
has made a massive discovery –
that I can’t really make them
do anything.

Essentially,
they have discovered free will.

To be honest
I tried to hide it from them
for as long as possible.
But now
I have three young adults in my home
instead of three young children.

As I watch each of them
making important life choices
I feel helpless.
Their lives are in their own hands now
and I am finding it hard
to let go.

And I wonder
if this is how God feels
as He watches with love
as each one of us chooses
to choose Him
or reject Him.

Today
I pray specially
for my grown-up children –
that they may use the gift of free will
wisely.

© Claire Murray, 6/12/15

2 thoughts on “Free Will

  1. My Andrew was 21 on Sunday, but to me he is still my wee boy. I remember sitting in the little prayer room at Antrim Hospital 21 years ago praying that he would be ok as he had been born 8 and a half weeks early. My prayer was granted and I placed him into His loving arms every day since. I pray that The Lord will direct his path as he embarks on the next part of his life’s journey. As a Mother all we can do is pray for God’s guidance on our children’s lives and it is such a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

    • Aurelia, lovely to hear from you! I know what you mean about Andrew still being your wee boy (despite being a grown man!) Parenting is simply not at all easy! And I really feel quite helpless at times. But I’m praying away for our ones, hoping that they are simply on their way to find God by a circuitous route!

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