As I write this, my daughter is now a one year old. Well, one going on twelve. She is a very active child; running, climbing, exploring. She tests the limits and boundaries constantly. And in case I’ve missed all of this in my everyday caretaking of her, people are ready to tell me at a moment’s notice. “She’s a handful!” “That girl gets into everything!” “I don’t know how you get anything done with her.” Thank you, observers. I was looking for someone to tell me about my daughter. The best comments come from family members. They speak to me as if my daughter’s behavior is a punishment to me. “You were strong willed too, but not like this!” The voices chime. Okay, so you’re telling me that my daughter wanting to climb onto benches, open and close doors, and just try her hardest to do the things that her brother and parents do is bad? The only thing that shows me is how strong this young girl is. She teaches herself and works hard to do things that the people she looks up to do. My daughter is fearless. My daughter is strong, both physically and mentally. My daughter is resilient. At first, my reaction was very defensive. So what if she is strong willed, she still does what is asked of her. She may battle me over and over, but I’ve been strong willed for longer than she has. What’s the big deal if she wants to know her place, and to assert herself? Now fast forward. I’m finishing this project as my daughter will soon be three. This child is still just as strong, but it is working out just I figured it would. She is loving and kind. She apologizes quickly, when necessary. She forgives quickly. And she will stand up for herself, and her brother. This girl will challenge someone, when necessary. I look to the future often. I know that God will use both of my kids in big ways. Who knows when, where or how, but I know it’s coming. I have a feeling my daughter’s strength will have something to do with it. I feared having a daughter. I feared the pressures that she will face growing up. But by the time my daughter turned two, I knew things would be okay. She’ll stand up for herself. She’ll say no to the pressures that will approach her. There are plenty of times that I turn to Joshua to read the beginning. Joshua 1:6 – “Be strong and courageous…” Joshua 1:7 – “Only be strong and very courageous…” Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!” Joshua 1:18 – “…; only be strong and courageous.” There are so many times I wish I was stronger. I wish I had more courage. I wish I could be bold and do the things I know needed to be done. God told Joshua to walk through other people’s camps. He told Joshua to go, proclaim, and take what was given. But he would not be able to unless he had strength and courage. Look, I’m thick headed. It takes a while for things to set in with me. But when the words “be strong and courageous” come up four times in 13 verses, I pay attention. You should too. So I look at my daughter. Fear escapes her. Weakness hides. She is not out of control or unruly. She is not disobedient or stubborn. I am working with her continually to use that strength. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you were a wild child. Fearless and strong willed. If that is who God made you to be, why would you be trained against it. Be strong and courageous. Walk through the enemy’s camp. Claim what is yours, by the hand of God. Being strong willed does not mean that you are on the wrong path. Being strong willed means you are the one making the path. Where is it that you have not been strong or courageous? Where have you not jumped out of the plane, all or nothing, into what you were called? This project you’re reading – this compilation of pieces I’ve written through the years, over a decade. Why do you think it has taken this long to write what I want and put it together? I didn’t have the courage. I didn’t have the strength to say what I wanted to say. That’s why I’m so thankful for a strong willed daughter. She taught me to be courageous and write. I’ll make my path where God has called me, despite the voices bringing me down. I hope you too will be strong and courageous to follow where God leads.
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May 2023
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