A Walk in Your Shoes

I had the privilege to speak at the Ohio District's Women's Conference Time Apart this past weekend. I shared on a topic that is important to all of us mother's - how do we raise daughters (and sons) that are godly. We could easily give a ten step list of things we should do as mom's but it really has to do deeper than that. I have included a few highlights from my session in this blog.

Imagine your daughter putting on your shoes. Imagine her taking the same steps that you do in a day. The shoes may not fit quite right but she still continues to walk in them. Maybe the shoes are too big or maybe they are too small. As she walks in your shoes: What is she thinking about? Where is she going? What is she dreaming about and what does her future hold? What are her silent hopes and dreams? What prayer is she praying? As moms we teach what we know but we reproduce who we are.

Your daughter will have some of the same insecurities that you do

Your daughter will have the same shopping patterns that you do

Your daughter will have the same view of money & budgeting that you do

Your daughter will learn how to treat her future spouse from you

Your daughter will learn her worth from you

Your daughter will learn what is important and valuable from you

Your daughter will learn how to serve from you

Your daughter will learn how to talk about others

Your daughter will learn what it means to be a friend

Your daughter will turn out like you! Maybe not the same hairstyle or color, maybe not the same clothing style, maybe not the same style of music – but she will be like you.

How do you look at your daughter? With a critical eye, only proud of her for the big accomplishments in her life – or do you celebrate the little victories in her life. Does your daughter like being around you?

Proverbs 15:30a – A cheerful look brings joy to the heart

Your silent reaction is sometimes the biggest teaching moment for your daughter.

Prov 15: 28a – The godly think before speaking

The future is literally in our hands

Every bedtime story counts

Every prayer I pray counts

Every tear I kiss away counts

Every encouraging word I speak counts

Every promise I keep counts

Every memory I make matters

I can’t erase the past – but I can ask for forgiveness for the past. Saying you are sorry to our children is not a sign of weakness; rather it shows incredible strength.

Deut. 6:6-7 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

I ended the session asking the women what they wanted to pass on to their daughters. I had them write it down on a card as a reminder in those moments when we want to give up or we have lost hope - to remind ourselves why we do what we do. If we are intentional with who we are, intentional on how we raise our children, by the grace of God we will raise children who belong to the Lord and who do mighty things for the Kingdom.