In 2004, at an estate sale, I was drawn to a framed hand colored piece printed in County Wicklow, Ireland showing a mother looking out an open window at a young child running off to play. Printed below the picture is A Prayer for a Young Child. It was published in Songs from Leinster, by Winifred M. Letts.
“God keep my jewel this day from danger;
From tinker and pooka and black-hearted stranger.
From harm of the water and hurt of the fire .
From the horns of the cows going home to the byre.
From the sight of the fairies that maybe might change her.
From teasing the ass when he’s tied to the manger.
From stones that would bruise and from thorns of the briar.
From evil red berries that waken desire.
From hunting the gander and vexing the goat
From depths o’ seawater by Danny’s old boat.
From cut and from tumble — from sickness and weeping.
May God have my jewel this day in his keeping.”
I love the cadence of the old-fashioned words. I know how a mother’s heart yearns for her children’s protection and pours that out in prayer. As I read one of Amy Carmichael’s prayers, I was struck by the similarity. Even though she never had children she mothered those with whom she worked in India
.
“Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children…
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging.
Holy Father for our children,
And wherever they may bide,
Lead them home at eventide.”
The opening and closing stanzas of
Amy Carmichael’s 19th century prayer for the children of the Dohnavur Fellowship in India
So today I am praying for mothers. I also pray for fathers. It is not always possible for us to protect our children from harm and hurt, from mistakes that they or someone else will make. I am glad to know that God reads the language of my longing, and hears the words of my heart.
Stones and Feathers 
I adore this. We had this picture on our landing when I was growing up. My brother took it when he moved out as he thought it was for him as a young child. He then gave it to his then fiancé and when they split up he left it with her. I’ve never seen it again until now and would dearly, dearly love to get a copy to frame. Any suggestions would be welcome. I’m in Dublin, Ireland. Wish I’d been at that estate sake in 2004!
Fiona
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OH, Fiona, I wish I could help. If you have not already done so, you would find previous comments that have been made on this post of some interest, I believe. As I mentioned to another reader- I have never seen this picture anywhere else although the prayer in various forms can be found on the internet. You are welcome to save and print the image from my blog post and take it with you to print shops, etc. Someone might recognize it and have some information about finding a copy. Thank you for visiting Stones and Feathers. Mary Ann
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These poems are wonderful. I’m a mom and grandma now and those good wishes are a perfect expression of what I hope for all of them. Thanks.
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Thank you Elizabeth. I am so glad you stopped by Stones and Feathers and hope you will visit again. I have never seen this picture anywhere else although the prayer in various forms can be found on the internet. You are welcome to save and print the image from my blog post and take it with you to print shops, etc. Someone might recognize it and have some information about finding a copy.
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This was in mykitchen when I was but a young scholar. In NJ, but with surnames of Mullen, Tyne,White and O’Conner; it was there behind highchairs. At the birth of my first, a matted and framed presentation of this art/poem was gratefully installed within my kitchen. And now I am a grandmother and my scholars (and )will embrace this prayer. I, till this day, never knew anyone else , knew about it. How neat. Would love to hear and share from/with others, their experience with this image.
J
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I love the prayer. I found the framed art at an estate sale in North Houston when I was already a grandmother. Thank you for reading and finding our mutual interest in this wonderful piece.
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I have this same treasure of a print and poem. I grew up with it in my room and am now 52 with an 11 year old boy. It is one of a few very special possessions from childhood that continues to speak to the depths of my heart and soul. Yes, I too, pray for all of our children.
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Thank you, Ann. I am so glad you have this. My sons are now 44, 41, and 38, and I have granddaughters – praying for them all! Peace to you as you parent and pray.
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