Excerpt from THRIVE AND SURVIVE, ZERO TO FIVE

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are the most darling people on the planet. When your first newborn was placed in your arms, you probably studied her face with a sense of awe you’d never felt before. Taking in the wonder of a brand-new life is an experience words can’t define. The scent, the softness, the helplessness, they’re all intoxicating. As a mother holds a baby against her chest, she’s lulled into a dreamlike world of wonder like no other.

And the amazement over children doesn’t end when they leave their newborn days. Crawlers, toddlers, and those learning baby talk easily capture a mother’s heart with their antics. Watching them is pure entertainment, and cameras click nonstop over every new achievement.

Then there is the charm of preschoolers with their endless (and often thoughtful) questions, many of a spiritual nature. Parents delight in watching them try to make sense of their narrow worlds and enjoy new abilities to do more things well.

Regardless of how infatuated a mom can be with her little one, there is no good time to worship children.

SIDEBAR: HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN

• Pray for solutions.
• Pray the details.
• Pray daily.
• Pray over a sleeping child.
• Pray believing God will answer.
• Pray your child’s name into Bible verses.
• Pray anywhere.
• Pray about everything.