Numbers are a funny thing; their value changes depending on your perspective.
Take the number ten, for example. It could be the score of your favorite sports team in last week’s game, the amount of money you drop in a donation basket, the number of Christmas presents you still need to purchase – or, it could be an age.
This week my oldest daughter turned ten. She was so excited; I was a bit melancholy. You see, should she leave home for college at age eighteen, she’s already lived with us over half of the years she’ll be at home.
That’s sobering. There’s so much I want to teach her, share with her, prepare her for, experience with her – and learn from her. As my dad reminded me this week, our control as parents lessens as our children grow, although, Lord willing, our influence continues.
Yet how can I but join in her excitement? In His goodness, God has given me these past ten years to be her mother. The next ten aren’t guaranteed. But may I seize each day and live it to its fullest as we make many more memories together. May her father and I use our influence to help her find the life the Lord would have for her. And in a variety of ways, may I show the love I have for her that began on a beautiful December afternoon just ten years ago and has but grown deeper and stronger since.
[Additional Note: This morning, my daughter asked me if she is now a “pre-teen.” Um, no. Let’s not rush this growing-up process!!]
Tracy, what a lovely tribute to your dear daughter and to motherhood itself!! So very true! Happy Birthday to her! My favorite statement that you mentioned is about how our control decreases, hopefully our influence increases…powerful insight! May we use every minute wisely!! Thanks for this reminder!
Blessings to your sweet daughter this week,
Katie
Happy birthday! What a cute picture! They do grow so fast don't day!
Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter! She is very lucky to have you as her Mom.
This is such a lovely post, and your daughter is beautiful 🙂 Happy birthday to her!
I've already decided I don't like the word "teenager", even though that is quite a way off yet for my children – teenagers these days in general seem to be such delinquents and I (prayerfully) hope my children will never be like today's teenagers but rather maturing and growing into "young adulthood". I've read somewhere (don't remember where, sorry!) that the word "teenager" seems to push kids to think they can be immature and that they are in this weird stage where maturity means nothing; it's all about having fun. I hope to avoid that mindset in my children at all costs!
I know what you mean about considering how much of the time with your daughter you've already had – when my daughter turned 6 this year I was reminded by my sister that I have had a possible 1/3 of her years at home, and that gave me a real shake-up too! We all must truly "redeem the time" and make every minute count.
I don't know whether you noticed or not, but I know you were enjoying my Child-raising series on my blog and I posted another post in it while you were on your break, so I thought I'd let you know in case you missed it. It's here – http://danielandclara.blogspot.com/2010/11/raising-children-for-lord-part-4-key.html
Blessings,
Clara 🙂
My kids loved the milestone of having the birthday that brought their age into"double-digits." She is beautiful, she seems more mature than ten. I am glad you are approaching the next years with prayer, that is very wise. They will need much prayer to face what they will have to go through as they sort through all they have been taught about life and the Bible and claim those truths for their own.
How exciting! Happy birthday!! 🙂 She is such a beautiful girl it sounds like both inside as well as outside. 🙂
Happy Birthday to your beautiful oldest girl! Those double digits are a big deal. I had many of the the same thoughts you did when my oldest turned 10 this year.