Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for the gift of family, and for the blessing of gathering in Your presence. We pray that every home here may be filled with love that is patient, unity that endures, and wisdom that grows stronger through trials. Father, we ask that You bless every couple here, with the courage to nurture something greater than oneself, and to make that choice, again and again, in our homes as in our communities. After all, how could we ever forget? There was a time when families were torn apart, when bonds were broken and the soil of our fertile land ironically seemed barren. Yet You, Lord, restored possibility out of loss. You taught us the preciousness of family through the pain of its absence. May we never forget this lesson, and may we always guard our families as treasures from You. Dear Lord, teach spouses to be advocates for one another, to recognize not only their strengths but also their imperfections with compassion. Remind us that neglect does not always arrive with loud conflict but can slip quietly into the days when we stop paying attention; let us beware! For such busy lives we all lead, such conflicting priorities we must tend to all. The Rwandan woman attempts to juggle substantial responsibility, and personal accomplishment with admirable grace. Pardon my bias…. but I have borne witness to this myself. You deserve your flowers. The Rwandan man strives to carry his family’s good name, the peace and principles of their home, the promise of a family’s future and lifelong security, with humility and poise. Once more, I have been blessed to have witnessed this myself, and you too deserve your flowers. Still. What a loaded plate for us all! So, how do we make the space to ensure our significant others, our families, also feel our affection and emotional support…not just by reaping the benefits of our efforts, but through our mere, loving presence. Lord, we ask that through the whirlwind of life, you keep us attentive, patient, and willing to serve! Lord, we pray that our children grow into compassionate and responsible leaders, governed by faith and love. May our homes shape them into the clearheaded, principled and compassionate people they are meant to become. We thank You, Father, for hearing this prayer. Bless our families, bless our rebuilding nation, and bless the generations to come. Amen! - Prayer from Her Excellency, @FirstLadyRwanda #YoungLeadersFellowship
