Lately I’ve
been having a lot of “new mom” moments. I watch in awe as my daughter scoots
around the floor, ‘talking’ to herself and finding contentment in her new
favorite toy, the wooden spoon. I feel an ache in my heart as I watch her grow.
Oh how I wish I could keep her little…and then I spend an afternoon with a
close friend and her two year old and I find my heart excited about all that is
to come. I never knew that motherhood would be so bittersweet, that love would
be the tie that binds but also the necessary component to being able to let go.
With all
that lays ahead, both known and unknown, I’ve been thinking about what I really
want to instill in my daughter. She will face challenges, heartbreak and undoubtedly,
some tragic circumstances. She will face the good, bad and ugly of this world
and all the while, our God will remain unchanged. How can I show her, teach
her, and convince her that God has called her to be an amazing force in this
world of compromise and indifference?
I’ve
accepted this challenge as a woman of God and as a mother with an undying,
unconditional love and determination for my child. I never knew I could love so
fiercely. What I teach her, even now at 9 months old, sets the precedent for so
much in her life.
There is an
endless list of hopes and dreams that I have for her. There are things that I
know I can only hope to shield her from and then there are things that I want
her to embrace wholeheartedly. I’m coming to accept that there will be very
little in her life that I will be able to actually control…and this freaks me
out! ::breathe::
I’m sure God
just shakes His head and sighs. He knows that I know that He has her in His
hands. Her story has been written. Her days have been counted…and the unwavering,
undeniable truth that I would give my life for this miracle that I birthed into
this world is nothing in comparison to the magnitude of love and loyalty that
God has for His children. So what can I do as her mother? I can teach her to
love the Lord. I can teach her to expect God to do what He says He will do. I
can show her His goodness and how, regardless what the world attempts to contradict,
His will, His way, is ALWAYS better. I have nothing but good intentions for the
decisions I make that impact her life, however, as a human, I will fail. I want
her to know that our God will never fail. He will never falter. He loves her
with an unrelenting love.
This
education of the heart has to begin with me. I have to serve as an unwavering
example of what Christ can do with a life. What are some ways that we as
parents can do just this? While there are countless ways in which God has
called us to lead and guide our children, the one thing that comes to the
forefront, and the one thing that I continue to learn about and through, is
that of prayer. What are some things you can specifically pray for? I’ve
detailed a few specifics that I personally incorporate almost daily into my
prayers for G.
1. Protection.
Pray unceasingly and boldly for your children. Fight the deeds of darkness that
prey on their innocent hearts, minds and souls with the most powerful tool
given us by the Father. Nightly I pray for a fortress of protection around my
daughter. This encompasses her health, her heart, her future spouse and her
future friends.
2.
Salvation. I continually pray for my daughter’s salvation. I cannot wait
(getting chill bumps even now!) for the day my daughter accepts Christ as her
Savior. Tears come to my eyes as I think about the day that I hear those words.
3. Boldness.
Even at 9 months I pray that the Lord will help me instill boldness for Christ
into her character. I can do this by talking to her about her Savior. I can
introduce and help keep her stay in the Word. I can educate her on God’s will
for our lives. I use the word “can” but in reality, these are a must.
4. Genuine
Faith. Pray for a genuine faith to be developed in the heart of your child.
Seek God’s ability to permeate every aspect of your child’s life so that her
faith will draw her closer to the Lord in a way that it will be more than a
Sunday morning, fill the pew kind of relationship.
5. A Full
Life. I pray that G’s life, while it inevitably will be touched by sadness and
tragedy, will remain full of hope, joy and selflessness. I pray that she finds
her niche and embraces her talents that will allow her to serve the Lord
passionately.
6. Wisdom. I
pray not only for her ability to make sound choices against the world’s second
best, but I pray for her father and me. I pray we are able set beyond reproach examples
and that we will make wise choices in raising her. I pray that she sees us as a
united front that loves her unconditionally. I pray for wisdom when responding
to her poor choices and the ability to show her the love of Christ through the
most difficult of circumstances.
I’m learning
that as parents we can only offer our best. I’ve also realized that the best I
have to offer is the Lord. All things are of Him and through Him and with Him
she will be made complete. The journey He has set before her will not be one
that she walks alone as long as she accepts the salvation that He so eagerly
and freely offers. Above all else, and even while the lessons of good manners
and right from wrong commence, every ounce of me is investing in her spiritual
future. It is my hope that you too will love your children enough to share the
goodness and necessity of Christ in their lives.
