Three Things I Know to Be True

My darling daughter,

Three things I know to be true at the age of 25:

This year, more so than ever, I have learned that waiting is really hard. When you wait, you have an opportunity to learn about yourself and to grow as a woman and a child of God. While you're in the midst of waiting, I can guarantee you that you're going to have days where every single thing you come in contact with will be cause for you to dissolve in tears. You'll have days where you'll snap at me and Dad even though you don't mean to. You'll have days where it feels like you can't wait one more minute, but let me promise you that you have what it takes within you to keep going. You are stronger on the inside than you can even begin to imagine because you have God's power within you. Cling to him and he will get you through the roughest of days.

You really are in control of your emotions. When you wake up in the morning, you can chose to set the tone for the day. You can let every single negative thing that happens to you put you in a bad mood or you can brush it off and choose to look for joy in each day. You will be amazed at how the smallest things will bring you great joy.

No is really a word that is acceptable to use. Don't be afraid to use it. I have learned that many times when I said yes to others, I have said no to me. My prayer for you is that you don't lose out on opportunities because you said no to yourself. After Jesus, you come before everyone else.

You may wonder why I'm writing you these tidbits of advice. My hope is that you'll take this wisdom and use it as a shortcut in your own life. Let it help you from going down the same path that I have. You'll make plenty of your own mistakes, and so I share with you some of the ones that I have made so that you don't have to make the same ones too.

Yours Forever,
Mama

My Amen Girl

My Dear Amen Girl,

I want you to know just how much I love you. How I've loved you since before you were born. How Jesus loves you and has been giving me glimpses of you way before you were born. How the Holy Spirit has placed you in my dreams for a very long time.

Let me tell you about two of those dreams.

Your Daddy really likes the piano. He's really good at it too. One particular dream you were sitting alongside your Daddy at a piano. Neither of you knew that I was watching you from behind. Your Dad was playing piano for you and showing you how to play piano and the two of you were doing lots of giggling. My heart was full and happy watching you two.

The second dream I had you were a tiny baby, about six months old, dressed in a grey and purple striped onesie. You and I were at church sitting with your Oma and you were in a baby carrier. Your Grandpa was preaching and the entire time you were babbling on as little babies do. Your Oma and I kept hearing you babble one word over and over, "Amen" and we kept laughing. After a bit, your Grandpa picked you up, smiled at you and kept on preaching while you were babbling in agreement with what he had to say.

How did you come to get the name, "Amen Girl"? When I told my dear friend Lori about this dream, she said, ""You can pray for the little "amen girl" now." This was long before you were born, long before your Daddy and I were married. All this time, you have been my "Amen Girl". All this time, I have prayed for you, my sweet girl.

I pray you grow to love Jesus as your Dad and I do. That you trust Him and know that He speaks to you and that you will put Him first in your life all of your days.

Yours forever,
Mama