Look at us. All cozied up together on the little ugly couch in my sunroom. Sheer bliss. That’s the best description of how I feel when I’m surrounded by my beautiful girls.
I used to think I only wanted sons.
Whatever! One really awesome son fills my heart and for that I’m grateful.
I love being a mom of daughters. They remind me so much of myself. Not only do they look very similar to me but they hold many of my same personality qualities. I like that….hopefully the rest of the world does too.
Sitting around the table talking with my girls empowers me to talk openly with them about real life stuff. They aren’t little cuties anymore. They’re both grown young women with smart minds and lofty goals for their future. As I look into their sparkling eyes and marvel at their big beautiful smiling teeth…..I get a lump in my throat at their beauty and their poise. Each of them embody a loveliness that leaves me breathless.
I want them to have everything they deserve and more. But, what I really want is to equip them with the greatest parts of me and what I’ve learned throughout my own life. I pray that they know…
Nothing they ever do can make me stop loving them. They are human, just like me. Loving them has nothing to do with their success or performance or appearance. I love them simply because of WHO THEY ARE to me. My daughters.
No one agrees on everything all the time. Even in families. Still, I can value the opinion or thinking of my girls. I can celebrate them and their differences and I can learn from their knowledge. They deserve it.
This one is easy because I’ve lived my own flawed life right in front of their faces. They’ve seen firsthand, NO ONE IS PERFECT. I want them to know that they don’t have any unrealistic goals to live up to. If they goof up, they haven’t blown it forever.
In a world where the most often used advice is “Follow your heart” I want my girls to know that FOLLOWING JESUS is way more important than whatever “heart” emotion they may feel. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”. Don’t trust your heart….trust Jesus.
No matter who – it’ll cost you. It might be your time, your independence, your family, your town, your career, your dreams. Love is costly. What you have to decide is …. is it worth it? Any love worth having will be worth the sacrifice.
Success isn’t everything. It’s important but not everything. Your value doesn’t come from your success. God already made you valuable. All the success in the world will never make you a great human. When you fail, accept it and learn from it. Failure will make you stronger, smarter and better in every way.
It only takes a second to ruin a reputation. The words we use, the clothes we wear and the way we behave and treat others all reflect WHO WE ARE as people. I want my girls to be the kind of young women that represent ladies in the highest form.
Sorry girls. All the things you’ve rolled your eyes at…you will do it to your own precious cargo. It’s just the way it is. So, trust me when I say what sounds crazy or stupid now will someday come out of your own mouth. It’s wisdom. You’re welcome.
And lastly…
Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for giving me my two girls. They really are the best parts of me. Because of them, I want to be a better me.
