Today, I am filled with thoughts about my daughters. I don’t
know them yet, but I can sense who they will be. I dream of holding them in my
arms as infants and dressing them up for parties and holidays in adorable
dresses and headbands. I picture the fights we’ll have when they become
strong-minded, stubborn teenagers and the joys we’ll have sharing special
moments of womanhood. And even though it’s so far off, I cannot wait for the
day when they’re all grown up and we can be best friends.
I’m struck specifically today by the knowledge that I will
be their role model of a woman. Whether they want to or not, they will take
after me in many ways—most of which they probably won’t even notice. The way I
carry myself, treat others, interact with them, guide them, respect my husband,
and love my friends will all become habits that they will follow to varying
extents. Who I am will act as the template for womanhood in their minds during
their formative years. And the lessons that I teach them, both explicitly and implicitly
will be carried into the rest of their lives, their self-value, their self-image,
their self-esteem, and their understanding of what it is to be a woman of God.
That’s pretty heavy… and very powerful. As a mother, I get
to raise my daughters to be wonderful, strong, beautiful, aware, wise, and
encouraging women (to name a few but by no means all of the attributes vital to
a healthy woman). I get to openly teach them about being a woman, being
beautiful, loving the Lord, and what God’s original design for women and
womanhood is—to the best of my knowledge and experience.
I get to teach them to be strong and understand their value
as women. I get to show them how to serve others by how I serve my family with
a joyful heart. I get to encourage them with truth from the Lord when they
have been hurt or knocked down as a woman. I get to speak purpose into their
lives and join with the Lord in helping them walk with Him. I get to show them what true beauty looks
like, and to not be ashamed of embracing their femininity. I get to
show them how I respect and submit to my husband out of honor for him and not
because of inferiority on my part. I hope to show them how to be a
humble, meek, and gentle woman while not sacrificing strength, courage, bravery, and
passion for life.
I want to help them to realize their dreams, their callings,
and their giftings. I want to encourage them to invest in and grow in these
areas at a young age. I want them to know that women can lead with power and
insight, that they are beautiful and radiant, that they exhibit characteristics
of the Father just as men do. I want them to always feel beautiful, to turn
down men who don’t treat them just right because they know their worth, and to
pursue the dreams that the Lord has put on their hearts with dedication,
surrender, and passion. I want them to live so fully that they glow with the
expression of Christ’s life in their beings.
I know that I’ll make mistakes. They'll pick up my bad habits.
I might be mean to them in frustration and exhaustion one day and they’ll be hurt.
They’ll be angsty and irritated and hurt me, too. I’ll break a rule or show a
lack of self-control somewhere. I’m human. But I pray that those mistakes don’t
cause any permanent damage. Instead, I pray that they simply allow opportunity
for us to practice reconciliation, forgiveness, and moving forward in
relationships.
I don’t know how many daughters I will have, what they will
look like, what they’ll enjoy, or what they’ll be good at. I don’t know them in
reality, but I know them in my Spirit, and I love them already. I pray now that
they will be filled with the Spirit. I pray that I will always be a place of
comfort, gentleness, encouragement, and safety for them. I pray that they will
know who they are by first knowing the Heavenly Father, and that understanding their
place in the Kingdom of heaven will fill them with the confidence to step out in
faith to fulfill the greatness that the Lord has in store for them.
I bless them in Jesus’ name as reckless lovers of the Lord
and His children, seekers of wisdom, speakers of truth, partakers in adventure,
worshippers of the Father, and royalty in the Kingdom of Heaven who fear
nothing but the greatness of their King. Make them brave, beautiful, and
abundantly alive, Lord.
I love you, my little darlings. Love the Lord with all of your heart.
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