The following is based on the group covenant of a parenting program called ARK: Adults Relating to Kids.  For information on ARK, call toll free: (888)ARK-0744 or visit the website of  The Children's Center for Self-Esteem. Permission to use the group covenant is granted by The Children's Center for Self-Esteem, Inc., Spring, Texas. 

An Affirmation of Ourselves:

O God, You are love and we are your children.  Help us to understand that because we are yours, we are persons of tremendous worth.  Help us to accept the forgiveness you offer and understand that you love us for who we are rather than for what we accomplish. 

An Affirmation of Our Children:

"Our children are gifts from God."

Creator God, we thank you for the gift of children. They bring hope into the world and they teach us about total trust in you and your ways of peace, love and compassion. They surprise us with their wisdom and they teach us to value the small and simple things of life.  Help us to  recognize and receive the hope and understanding they offer the world. 

"Our children are people who deserve respect." 

Dear God, help us to remember that children are not little adults. They are exactly who you created them to be at every stage of their lives. Help us to recognize our children as separate from ourselves. Open our eyes to see each child as unique and deserving of respect.

"Our children are the future of the world." 

God, give us the strength and the courage to work with you now to provide a safe, clean , peaceful world for all children. Help us to face the fact that without the children of today there is no future for this world.

"The world we show our children is the world they will show their children."

Great Mother, Father God, let us not pass on to our children the sins and fears and failures that plague our own lives.  Mold our lives into a reflection of the love that your son, Jesus, brought into the world. 

"We love all children for who they are rather than for what they do." 

Holy One, as we come to understand your unconditional love for us, may we grow in our ability to show that same love to all the children whose lives we touch. Amen.