Slow down baby girl.
She’s 10 going on 15 and we struggle to keep the little inside her. It’s a Mama’s battle yet priviledge to step out of the way and let them grow up yet provide instruction and training while still nurturing. I don’t always do it well.
I swing from one end of the pendulum to the next at times. One moment I’m almost letting her talk me into wearing a dress that looks like an 18 year old should wear complete with a built in padded bra and everything. I guess I was thinking she could stuff socks in there?? I’m not sure what I was thinking. (Thank goodness for my Mom, sister and a good friend who redirected me when I sent a picture of the dress in question). And we finally found something that was cute, trendy and modest.
Other times I find myself swinging the other way and in a clothing battle with her because I’m making her wear something that looks like it was pinned personally by Laura Ingles Wilder on a Little House Pinterest Board. Not sure what I was thinking there either.
And don’t even get me started on red lipstick and fingernails. My Mother would have never let me wear red lipstick at 10 years old. One word was associated with red when I was growing up: “hoochie-mamma”. I crack up now when I think about it. I’m not sure why the color red got such a bad rap back then but it sure did around my house. But there she is – my 10 year old sporting some red hot lipstick and nails. But it was homecoming and she was on the court so I let her do it and was totally fine with it.
I have found that praying about even the little things is worth taking to God. Asking for his help in finding the right dress. Asking God for a good friend for your child that supports the same things you support as a family. We can take these things to our God and he hears us. The deeper issues is what we really want to take to him – Lord, let her heart long to know you and trust you more. To love you with all her heart, soul and mind. That’s really where it’s at. Because at the end of the day – who cares what color your lips are when your heart is pounding for God.
Lord – let us Mama’s not stifle what you want to do in our growing up little girls. Give us wisdom to know when to help them in holding them off for things that are too old for them and yet discerning when to let them move into new territory. And above everything we ask you would help our girls to know and love you more. Show us how to help them do that. Let them see us know and love you more. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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