Hello Kathryn,

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all mothers. Our oldest daughter graduated from NC State University this past weekend. It was a great day for her and for us. The pandemic affected her freshman and sophomore years and she had to overcome a number of challenges, but she still was able to graduate on track. So, for her it was a triumph.

 For us, it was bittersweet. We are excited to see her mature over the last four years and accomplish something on her own (with only a small amount of help from us.) We are so proud of the woman that she has become. But at the end of the day, there was a slight sadness though. Knowing that she is entering a new season of her life we felt like time has gone by so fast. I felt like I needed to start letting go so that she could flourish on her own. Almost like the momma bird getting the baby bird out of the nest.

These feelings made me question have I taught her all she needs to know. Have I lived a Godly life before her so that she knows the only God who can save and set free. Immediately my mind was flooded with a number of mistakes that I had made along the way. But the voice of God says to me, “My grace is sufficient for thee for my power is made perfect in your weakness.”

Her success was not a reflection of our parenting perfection, her success reflects God’s provision. What I have learned is that if we are obedient to Him, His provision will go before us and take care of those things that are most important to us like our children. My role as a mother is to lead my children to Christ by living a forgiven life before them. What I mean by a forgiven life is to acknowledge that I am not perfect, every day I need the Savior and my children are a gift from God. Sometimes our gifts from God do involve labor!!!

My most important role as a mother is not to provide the best clothes, the best education or even the best home, it is to pass on a saving faith to my children. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. It is accomplished in our prayer life and in God’s provision. The most important thing that we can do mothers is to give our children to the Lord and pray for them. 

Pray for your children! Pray for your children!