If there is one thing I've learned in my almost 16 years of being a mom, it's that raising kids can't be reduced to a formula. What works today, doesn't work tomorrow. And what works for one will never work for another.
It's complicated and trying and exhausting and thrilling and beautiful all at the same time.
If a new mom were to ask me for some sort of secret formula I could only say, "Pray for the wisdom to know how to strike that balance between discipline and grace... work and fun... saying yes and saying no... loving them like crazy but not ever letting them make you crazy...pointing them to Jesus but not demanding their relationship with Him look exactly like yours. And pray that they'll find really good friends."
The friends part is huge.
Yesterday, you saw the video of how Hope spent her summer- 7 weeks in Ethiopia. This trip came out of her friendship with Johanna whose family has spent years living in Ethiopia off and on. They are an amazing family with amazing hearts. Johanna was in a lot of the pictures with Hope you saw in the video. As a matter of fact, she made the video. (Thank you Jo!)
I've done so much wrong as a mom.
But one thing I've discovered I did right was praying for godly friends for my daughter. She's not the kind of girl who will ever have a zillion friends. But the friends she has are wonderful.
For almost a year, I prayed specifically for someone just like Johanna. And when I say prayed, I don't mean just casually mentioning it to God. I begged Him.
What's your best parenting advice?
I'll admit, I have so much to learn.
It's complicated and trying and exhausting and thrilling and beautiful all at the same time.
If a new mom were to ask me for some sort of secret formula I could only say, "Pray for the wisdom to know how to strike that balance between discipline and grace... work and fun... saying yes and saying no... loving them like crazy but not ever letting them make you crazy...pointing them to Jesus but not demanding their relationship with Him look exactly like yours. And pray that they'll find really good friends."
The friends part is huge.
Yesterday, you saw the video of how Hope spent her summer- 7 weeks in Ethiopia. This trip came out of her friendship with Johanna whose family has spent years living in Ethiopia off and on. They are an amazing family with amazing hearts. Johanna was in a lot of the pictures with Hope you saw in the video. As a matter of fact, she made the video. (Thank you Jo!)
I've done so much wrong as a mom.
But one thing I've discovered I did right was praying for godly friends for my daughter. She's not the kind of girl who will ever have a zillion friends. But the friends she has are wonderful.
For almost a year, I prayed specifically for someone just like Johanna. And when I say prayed, I don't mean just casually mentioning it to God. I begged Him.
What's your best parenting advice?
I'll admit, I have so much to learn.
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