While My Child is Away—A Cover Reveal

While My Child is Away

My newest book from Worthy is coming out early this summer. I'm excited to share the back cover copy and especially the cover!

Back Cover Blurb:

Parents and children are separated for many reasons: divorce, school, camp, even work. It might be for just a few days or indefinitely. These prayers give voice to all that you are hoping for your child when you can t be the one to meet their needs. Prayers of blessings, protection, instruction and grace. Or prayers for those around your child to choose wisely, see their needs, and love them as you would. Prayers for friends, teachers, coaches and mentors to step in and fill every need. Knowing that a loving Father God is caring for your child, even when you can't, gives you the peace and assurance that all will be well.

Why I Wrote this Book

I’ve come to realize that the seeds of faith begin their journey to the light, in the dark.

Raising kids is an amazing privilege. It’s also journey filled with unimaginable highs and devastating lows. I wouldn’t trade my experiences with anyone, but I don’t know how I’d have made it this far without a foundation of faith, paved with prayer.

I didn’t come into this parenting journey equipped with a strong prayer life. For those who’ve known me for years, the idea of me writing a book of prayers seems odd. I was the one who shifted uncomfortably in my chair when the topic of prayer came up, and the one who did everything possible to avoid praying in public.

Somewhere along my life’s path, I’d come to the conclusion that only spiritual people could pray prayers worth hearing. Those would be prayers worth hearing in regard to other people and especially in regard to God.

Then I became a mom . . . of three active boys. As their imaginations grew with ways to get into mischief, so did my fear for their safety and well-being. (Oh, the stories I could tell!)

I did my best to keep them safe and keep my worry in check. But I learned early on that MY best fell way short of what was needed. So I began to pray. I wasn’t comfortable with my words, though. When I prayed it felt inadequate. So I searched for books on prayer and books of prayers. I found the books on prayer, but couldn’t find what I was looking for when it came to books of prayers.

All I wanted was a starting point—a way to release the flood of words stuck in the depths of my worried heart. I couldn’t find anything out there. So out of desperation and as a last resort, I began to write my own prayers.

I learned to take my overwhelming fear to the only One who could protect him. And I left my sons in God’s hands. The prayers weren’t pretty. Often times they weren’t even words. They truly were the groanings we read about it Romans 8:26-27.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was like a seed, planted deep in the ground. I was surrounded by darkness, by rough, rocky soil, pressing in on all sides threatening to crush the life from me. But through that incredible pressure, the shell of my own strength fell away, and I slowly began to push toward the light that I knew lay just beyond the darkness.

And my course of last resort became my strength, It became the first place I turned. Instead of praying in desperation, I began to pray in confidence. When the fears threatened to overwhelm me, I learned to lean into God, instead of turning in on myself.

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As parents we need a foundation of #faith, paved with #prayer - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Seeds of #faith begin their journey to the light, in the dark - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)