Dear Father,
I will admit that I do not comprehend godliness. It seems to say that we are trying to be like you. That goal is incomprehensible to me. You and I are not comparable in the least. Even Jesus, your example in human form, is, to say the least, out of my league. To me it is like saying that I need to learn to fly. I can jump off the ground a few inches and flap my arms, but that pretty much makes a joke of it. Such is how I feel with any attempt to be like you. So how to I pray "godliness" for these children when I don't understand it myself?
But I do see attributes of you that we can attempt to emulate. Mercy, compassion, forgiveness, true justice in defending the powerless, anger against oppressors, holiness - these are aspects of you that you show us over and over again in scripture. The last attribute, holiness, is equally difficult. What does it mean to be holy as you are holy?
My prayer for these children is that they seek you and seek your face and that as they seek you, they learn of you. And as they learn of you, please draw them to you and teach them what it means to be holy. Teach them what it means to be merciful and compassionate. Teach them what it means to administer true justice, defending the powerless and confronting the oppressors. And as you teach them this, fan the flame of desire within them to follow after these attributes of yours. Guide them in that path so that they are a beacon of your nature in the world.
Amen
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