Grace in the Growth: Walking with Your Child Through Growth

📖 Suggested Reading: Exodus 14

Having kids in each stage of life from baby, toddler, and tween to teen has been eye-opening. In the baby and toddler years, growth is rapid and obvious. Change happens seemingly overnight. You can track their progress in milestones, first steps, and new words.

But the teen years? They can feel like walking in the wilderness. The growth we hope for is no longer physical but emotional and spiritual. It's slower, harder to measure, and often feels invisible. At times, it even comes with resistance.

One day, during our mom and son time, we were driving after a game of pickle ball.  He had just finished his piano lesson and was happily enjoying a donut. These moments, just the two of us are when I get a rare window into his heart. With the right questions, he opened up and that day, he shared a dream of playing high school baseball.

As any parent would, I started laying out what the path to that dream might look like: the physical and mental training, the sacrifices, the challenges he might face. I ended with encouragement, reminding him that if God gave him this desire he would help him and I believed he’s fully capable.

But when I glanced over, I saw something in his eyes: hurt. He seemed offended by my mention of weaknesses, and I could tell he only partly believed my words.

Everything in me wanted to respond with frustration, to lecture him about how I knew better. But by the grace of God, I responded gently.

I told him, “You may be hurt by some of what I said.  Maybe you only believe me forty percent right now. But it’s true. And I’m going to walk with you and show you.”

At that moment, I couldn’t help but think of Moses. In Exodus 4, God laid out exactly what would happen and yet Moses still doubted. He told God he wasn’t good enough, that he couldn’t speak well. But by Exodus 14, Moses stood a leader boldly before the Israelites and declared:

“Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today you will never see them again forever.”

How did Moses go from doubt to faith?  From mute to leader?  I believe it was the patient, faithful presence of God. God walked with him, showed him what to do, and performed signs and wonders along the way. Moses didn’t become a leader overnight, he grew into it.

This was a gentle reminder to me to have grace in the growth.  It was a reminder to follow God’s example of presence, training, and experiences.  My role isn’t just to speak truth but to be there as it unfolds.

So take heart, weary mama. When your wisdom, experience, or love isn’t received right away, press in. Stay gentle. Stay intentional. The growth might be invisible now, but each seed you plant is seen by God. Let Him water them. Trust Him with the harvest.

🙏🏻 Prayer:
Thank You for the examples in Scripture that show us how to disciple our children. When You called Moses, he could hardly speak and doubted everything You said. Yet You walked with him through every battle, built his faith with every miracle, and patiently gave him the words he needed until he could stand in confidence.

Help us, as parents, to respond the same way. When our children express doubt or struggle with belief, keep us from taking offense. Teach us to be patient in their areas of growth, to guide them with grace rather than frustration.

We long to follow Your example walking with them in love, offering truth with gentleness, and staying present as they mature. Grant us wisdom in what to say and how to lead them through each season.

Our children are not our own. We surrender them to You, trusting that Your will for their lives is good and far greater than our own.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Is It Worth It? How to Find Joy in the Work of Celebrating Holidays

 Holiday weeks have a way of piling demands onto our already full plates.  Planning special meals, picking out outfits, and assembling baskets can quickly pull my focus towards myself and ALL the work I have to do.  

As I cooked and prepared our Seder meal, juggling a baby on my hip and entertaining an active toddler, I found myself tempted to skip it all.

Lord, is it worth all this work?

In that moment, I was gently reminded: preparing a meal that would bring my family to the table to remember God and celebrate His faithfulness is never time wasted.

So, I set the table and cooked the boss’s favorite meal. The smell of pot roast filled the house, even greeting him in the garage with a warm welcome. We gathered, read through the Haggadah, prayed, and remembered the God who delivered the Israelites from slavery.  We shared the meal in remembrance of Jesus who became the Lamb of God, who paid the price for our sins.

This was the reward for the labor.  My family sitting down worshipping God together.

“Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”
– Deuteronomy 6:4–7

During that time, another question pressed on my heart from the Lord:

If the only reward for all your work was knowing that you pleased Me, would it be worth it? Would you still do it?

That question changed everything. It shifted my mindset from me to Him.

And so, with joy, I put together baskets, baked, and did all the little things, knowing each act was an expression of love for my family and service to the Lord.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,
knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
– Colossians 3:23–24

On Easter morning, a sweet moment sealed itself into my memory; the boss holding the baby, laughter echoing as the kids opened their baskets. 

These are the moments I live for.  Creating an atmosphere where my family can connect, remember, and rejoice was the purpose. Seeing their joy? That was the reward.

So, friends  “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
– Galatians 6:9–10

When I submit my work to the Lord, serving Him and those around me with joy, He is the one who brings forth the fruit.

Obedience in the Face of Unbelief

Suggested Reading: Exodus 3-4

The hardest part of being a mom is watching your child struggle through something you can’t fix for them. This past year, navigating the teen years and a tough gymnastics season was a crucible for both Cindy and me. Through it, our faith deepened, and so did our relationship.

What seemed like small setbacks in my eyes were mountains in hers.  And because they mattered to her, they mattered to me. 

• Not getting her bar skills in time, which meant sitting out her first two meets, crushed her spirit.
  
  

• Catching the flu and trying to regain her strength felt like climbing an impossible hill.
  
  

• Falling into the trap of comparison and envy brought on waves of doubt.
  
  

• Dreaming of Eastern Nationals, yet feeling it was just out of reach, ushered in a tide of unbelief.
  
  

Despite encouragement from her coaches and from us, there was one thing Cindy had to learn the hard way: 

No one can believe for you. She had to find belief for herself.

I imagine that’s how Moses felt when God called him to lead the Israelites. Even though God clearly promised His presence, laid out the plan, and showed him the power he'd be given, Moses still responded with uncertainty:

“What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say?” Exodus 4:1

Even after God gave him power to perform miracles with his staff, Moses protested:

“Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” — Exodus 4:10

He wrestled with his calling and his confidence. But in the end, he was obedient, even when he didn’t feel ready.  Maybe that’s where real belief begins: in showing up, taking the next step, and trusting God with the rest.

Cindy did just that. She kept training, kept showing up, and kept listening. She had her own burning bush moments, words of truth spoken by her dad and me during late-night talks and hard days.

We reminded her:

• Delays happen, but God can be trusted.
  
  

• Your body may feel weak, but your spirit doesn’t have to be, God is your strength.
  
  

• Compete for the glory of God, not to be better than others, for applause or medals.
  
  

• Give your dreams and desires to Him, He knows the plans He has for you, and they are good.
  
  

At the Ohio State Meet, she walked in with doubt and left with mixed feelings. She placed first on beam, but the joy felt flat.

She spotted a necklace at a vendor booth and said she wanted it.  I told her I would get it if she made it to Nationals. I saw the doubt in her eyes, but I answered with confidence. I told her I believed in her so much that I would buy the necklace before she even competed at Regionals and will gift it to her when she was one of the top seven to make the team. But I also told her this:

It won’t happen just because I believe. It will happen when you believe.

And so, she made a plan. She took her thoughts captive and reframed them with truth. She worked with purpose, cheered for others, and shifted her focus to glorifying God.  She didn’t just make the Dream Team and qualify for Nationals she found joy again. Joy in the process. Joy in the journey. Joy in the sport she loves so much.

Maybe that’s what God wants from all of us: not perfect faith, but the willingness to bring Him our doubts and walk in obedience anyway. We hope this necklace will be a remembrance of the lesson of belief.  Belief in herself and in God.  We pray that she will:

Trust in the Lord with all her heart and lean not on her own understanding, but in all her ways acknowledge him so he can keep her paths straight.  -Proverbs 3:5-6

From Cardboard Desks to Kingdom Purposes

 Suggested Reading: Exodus 2-3

The love of teaching has been with me since childhood. I can vividly remember being around eight years old, turning large cardboard boxes into makeshift school desks. I’d sit my younger cousins at their "desks" and pretend to teach them something.  It felt natural.  Years later, during one of our final youth group nights in my senior year of high school, I experienced a moment that forever marked me. With eyes closed and heads bowed in prayer, our pastor said, “Some of you are called to shepherd and teach.” Then he asked those who felt that call to stand.

That night, I stood and with that simple act, the confusion about which college major to choose ended. I switched from accounting to education.

From a young age, Moses’ parents saw something in him, something worth protecting. When they looked at their baby boy, they recognized his potential and importance.

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” —Hebrews 11:23

Later, God would call Moses to a specific and powerful task: to confront Pharaoh, perform miracles, and lead the Israelites out of 400 years of slavery.  Moses was called to be a prophet, someone who would speak on God’s behalf.  He would spend the rest of his life living out that calling.  Moses’ calling wasn’t about him or for him, it was about God and it was for others.  

I graduated from college ready to fulfill my calling in the classroom.  After marrying a handsome airman, we moved to a small city in Mississippi where teaching jobs were nowhere to be found. What I pictured wasn’t happening.  I felt disheartened and lost. The only job I could find was at a children’s consignment store, $7.50 an hour, selling used kids’ clothes. 

This was the wilderness where I learned that no matter the season, vocation, or circumstance, God would show me a way to live out my calling and I would teach. 

So, I aimed to be the best sales representative I could be.  Without children of my own yet, I immersed myself in learning everything about clothing brands, toys, and products so I could serve every customer with knowledge and care. And since I couldn’t find a school to teach in, I volunteered at our church teaching a 5th-grade Bible study for young girls. God was still using me to teach, just not in the way I had originally pictured.

When I became a stay-at-home mom to my first baby, I itched to be back in the classroom. That’s when God flipped my idea of calling being tied to one single career. I started this blog as an outlet and discovered the world of online learning. I began creating sewing tutorials to help others learn. I realized it doesn’t matter who, what, where, or when… if God calls me to teach, I will answer the call.

Now, as a mother, I look at my own children with the eyes of Moses’ mom. I see their beauty, their worth. I know their ultimate purpose is to love and glorify God. He has given each of them a unique call (many of which are expressed in Ephesians 4:11–12). He’s equipped them with physical and spiritual gifts to meet the needs of their generation.  Just like Moses’ mom saw, protected, and prepared him for his future, it’s my responsibility to do the same with each of my children.

❓Reflective Questions:

• Do I know what God has called me to?
  
  

• Can I be content with the current way I’m living out my calling?
  
  

• How am I growing in my character and gifts to support my calling?

• Can I see the gifts and callings in others?
  
  

• Do I speak encouragement over their giftings and call out their purpose with life-giving words?

🙏🏻 Prayer:

Lord, give me eyes to see my children the way You do. May I see and speak over them the potential and future you have given them. Show me the plans You have for them, and help me guide them in the way they should go, so that when they grow old, they will not depart from You or Your ways.

Reveal the gifts they have, both physical and spiritual, and show me how to nurture them.  My focus is not on medals, recognition, or awards. Those are temporary and fleeting. My focus is to prepare them to recognize, speak about, and live out their calling. Whatever they do in each season is only the avenue through which their calling is expressed.

Give me wisdom and discernment to develop their character in ways that support their calling. May they not be distracted by comparison or envy, but stay focused on who You’ve called them to be.  And whatever they do, I pray they do it with all their heart, as working for You and not for man.

Help them live a life worthy of their calling, desiring only to glorify You.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.