I noticed this joy and worship from my peripheral vision as I was standing at the concert of a well known Christian artist, and it overwhelmed me. To the right of me was this person who was fully engulfed with all the songs and was singing loudly. I turned my head in amazement, because this person standing to the right of me was my daughter. I mean what parent doesn't want to see this type of joy and happiness coming from their children as they sing praises unto the Lord? For me, as a parent, it was the first time I saw my little girl as a young woman. Now, I don't want you to think that I mean like a little girl who was learning to ride her bike for the first time, and now she's all grown up. Although this is relevant and important too, but I am referring to seeing my little girl as a young woman in Jesus. To see for the first time that Christ had completely taking over the number one slot in her life. I think it is safe to say that almost every parent who has a healthy relationship with their children wishes to believe that they are number one in their children's lives. I know this, because I have selfishly thought this way for all of my daughter's life. I mean I knew one of my many roles as a parent was to make sure I did everything within my power to equip my daughter with God's word and to create an environment that she could learn to be rooted and grounded in Christ. I knew that I desired to see her give her life to Christ and to thirst after righteousness. I guess I never thought about approaching this stage in my life and becoming fully aware that God would be asking me to increase my faith once again. This time it centered around the fundamental core of my existence--my daughter. This person whom God gave me to rear in my imperfect journey. This person whom God had created and picked me to watch over His gift until the appointed time. Here she stood in my peripheral vision communicating to me loud and clear nonverbally that she wanted Jesus more. You know what I heard her. Oh my goodness, I heard her loud and clear. As some would say, MESSAGE RECEIVED. For the first time, I felt that my belief that I had been number one in her life for all these years simply shifted. I felt the individuality of she and I being two separate people. It hit me like a ton of bricks that my life had a beginning and end date. I don't mean to sound morbid, but I realized that I truly would meet Jesus one day. That the process of birth, living, and death didn't just apply to my ancestors, but it also applied to me. The reality that one day I would be simply remembered was overwhelming to say the least. All because I could see from my peripheral vision that my daughter had embraced her relationship with Jesus all own her own. You know I never really thought about it. I guess I was subconsciously thinking that at some appointed time in the future, I would have this burning bush experience like Moses did (Exodus 3) at which time God would say to me to let go and let Him have full access to my daughter. Doesn't that sound foolish, but we as parents think we have it all figured out, but we don't. I can tell you this that I have wanted to do some extraordinary things with my daughter that I was not able to do, because of finances, like taking her to experience some breathtaking travel. I mean we have had some great times and memorable family vacations, but the extraordinary thing that has been the most important thing all along is being able to see her experience her own relationship with Christ. As children grow and become individuals, it's by God's design that they come to Him all own their own. No matter how many breathtaking places I wasn't able to take her on this earth while she was growing up, I understand that no breathtaking place can take the place of Jesus. Of course, we can always go to these breathtaking places in the future, but her future with Jesus should be "today." You have been a single parent, and you are doing life with your children every single day. You need to know that the seeds you sow into your children's lives are being scattered upon fertile ground (Matthew 13:8). You need to know that no matter their ages that your children have and always will belong to God. Although it's nothing to be afraid of, but you need to know that there is a time and season for everything under the sun, and you will be heaven bound one day to meet Jesus face to face (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). You need to know that allowing your children to have the room to grow at their various stages of life is essential, necessary, and is already found in your parent job description. You need to know that your children are separate from you. You need to know that their hopes and dreams are separate from the hopes and dreams that you may have for them. You need to know that God will call your children out from underneath your wings into this world where He will give them assignments that will allow them to take up their own cross and start winning souls for Jesus. You need to know this. You need to know this applies to you as their parent and to your family no matter what little corner of earth you have in this big world. Regardless of your zip code, you need to know all of this applies to you and me. This scripture has new meaning to me now and is found in John 10:30 which says, "I and my Father are one." Well if I had to personalize this for my daughter who I thought would always be just mine, it would say, "My daughter and the Father are one." I'm sure you've had that experience where you are walking somewhere with your children, and you are holding their hands. Well now imagine that Jesus is in the middle, and He's holding both your hands. Be alert as their parent, be willing to let go as their parent, and be willing to say yes to Jesus when you are asked to increase your faith once again. Continue to let Jesus be the only source of vision that you have when you look at your children, because Jesus is the answer to it all.
by Tracy Truesdale
I noticed this joy and worship from my peripheral vision as I was standing at the concert of a well known Christian artist, and it overwhelmed me. To the right of me was this person who was fully engulfed with all the songs and was singing loudly. I turned my head in amazement, because this person standing to the right of me was my daughter. I mean what parent doesn't want to see this type of joy and happiness coming from their children as they sing praises unto the Lord? For me, as a parent, it was the first time I saw my little girl as a young woman. Now, I don't want you to think that I mean like a little girl who was learning to ride her bike for the first time, and now she's all grown up. Although this is relevant and important too, but I am referring to seeing my little girl as a young woman in Jesus. To see for the first time that Christ had completely taking over the number one slot in her life. I think it is safe to say that almost every parent who has a healthy relationship with their children wishes to believe that they are number one in their children's lives. I know this, because I have selfishly thought this way for all of my daughter's life. I mean I knew one of my many roles as a parent was to make sure I did everything within my power to equip my daughter with God's word and to create an environment that she could learn to be rooted and grounded in Christ. I knew that I desired to see her give her life to Christ and to thirst after righteousness. I guess I never thought about approaching this stage in my life and becoming fully aware that God would be asking me to increase my faith once again. This time it centered around the fundamental core of my existence--my daughter. This person whom God gave me to rear in my imperfect journey. This person whom God had created and picked me to watch over His gift until the appointed time. Here she stood in my peripheral vision communicating to me loud and clear nonverbally that she wanted Jesus more. You know what I heard her. Oh my goodness, I heard her loud and clear. As some would say, MESSAGE RECEIVED. For the first time, I felt that my belief that I had been number one in her life for all these years simply shifted. I felt the individuality of she and I being two separate people. It hit me like a ton of bricks that my life had a beginning and end date. I don't mean to sound morbid, but I realized that I truly would meet Jesus one day. That the process of birth, living, and death didn't just apply to my ancestors, but it also applied to me. The reality that one day I would be simply remembered was overwhelming to say the least. All because I could see from my peripheral vision that my daughter had embraced her relationship with Jesus all own her own. You know I never really thought about it. I guess I was subconsciously thinking that at some appointed time in the future, I would have this burning bush experience like Moses did (Exodus 3) at which time God would say to me to let go and let Him have full access to my daughter. Doesn't that sound foolish, but we as parents think we have it all figured out, but we don't. I can tell you this that I have wanted to do some extraordinary things with my daughter that I was not able to do, because of finances, like taking her to experience some breathtaking travel. I mean we have had some great times and memorable family vacations, but the extraordinary thing that has been the most important thing all along is being able to see her experience her own relationship with Christ. As children grow and become individuals, it's by God's design that they come to Him all own their own. No matter how many breathtaking places I wasn't able to take her on this earth while she was growing up, I understand that no breathtaking place can take the place of Jesus. Of course, we can always go to these breathtaking places in the future, but her future with Jesus should be "today." You have been a single parent, and you are doing life with your children every single day. You need to know that the seeds you sow into your children's lives are being scattered upon fertile ground (Matthew 13:8). You need to know that no matter their ages that your children have and always will belong to God. Although it's nothing to be afraid of, but you need to know that there is a time and season for everything under the sun, and you will be heaven bound one day to meet Jesus face to face (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). You need to know that allowing your children to have the room to grow at their various stages of life is essential, necessary, and is already found in your parent job description. You need to know that your children are separate from you. You need to know that their hopes and dreams are separate from the hopes and dreams that you may have for them. You need to know that God will call your children out from underneath your wings into this world where He will give them assignments that will allow them to take up their own cross and start winning souls for Jesus. You need to know this. You need to know this applies to you as their parent and to your family no matter what little corner of earth you have in this big world. Regardless of your zip code, you need to know all of this applies to you and me. This scripture has new meaning to me now and is found in John 10:30 which says, "I and my Father are one." Well if I had to personalize this for my daughter who I thought would always be just mine, it would say, "My daughter and the Father are one." I'm sure you've had that experience where you are walking somewhere with your children, and you are holding their hands. Well now imagine that Jesus is in the middle, and He's holding both your hands. Be alert as their parent, be willing to let go as their parent, and be willing to say yes to Jesus when you are asked to increase your faith once again. Continue to let Jesus be the only source of vision that you have when you look at your children, because Jesus is the answer to it all.
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Tracy Truesdale
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