My sweet girl, I pray for you always.

I pray you’ll know a friend in Jesus. That you’ll bring Him with you wherever you go and share Him with everyone you meet.

I pray you’ll be strong and be the type of girl who does things that scare her. I also pray you’ll know it’s OK to ask for help when you can’t do it on your own.

I pray you’ll surround yourself with good friends and that you’ll be a good friend to others. I also pray you will be kind to the people who are not good friends to you.

Everyone is fighting battles and I hope you have a heart of compassion even toward those who are mean.

I pray you won’t feel the need to give part of yourself to a man to feel loved. I pray your heart won’t be fractured in that way. I pray you’ll wait for a man who desires to follow God’s way.

I pray you will look at injustice and be a voice for the vulnerable. Whether it’s a kid being bullied at school or injustice on a grander level, I pray you will stand for those being pushed down . . . just like Jesus did.

I pray you will know you are an actual princess.

You’re the daughter of the King. You don’t need the big dress or pearls to prove your worth. The fact that He created you means you are royalty.

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I pray you’ll know you don’t need a man to complete you. You are complete all on your own. But I pray you find a good man anyway, one who encourages you and creates dreams with you. One who takes your hand and chases after God with you.

I pray you’ll love your body for the temple it is. I pray you won’t shame it or manipulate it. I pray you recognize your body is a home for God’s spirit and was bought at a high price.

I pray in your struggles you will learn so much about grace. I pray you learn firsthand what it’s like to be held in your weakest moments and to know you are never alone.

I pray you won’t have to compromise yourself or your morals to make others happy. Precious daughter, I pray your eyes are focused on the Lord’s desire for your life, not man’s.

I pray you know every single day how important you are. That you were created by the Creator on purpose. He looked at the whole world, in all its entirety and eternity, and thought you would be an important piece to His great plan.

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I pray you’ll learn forgiveness can set you free. I pray you won’t live a life imprisoned by anger and bitterness.

I pray that even though I’m so imperfect and have failed at so many of these, I can be one of the people who helps guide you through these things.

Most importantly, my baby girl, I pray you know how loved you are.

Our God loves you more than I can explain, but you have a mama who will spend the rest of her life trying to give you just a glimpse of His love for you.

Amen.

Originally published on The Unraveling by Kelli Bachara