Oh, poor Tall Guy {my husband that is. . . he’s 6’3” and I’m 5’4”, so he’s especially tall to me!} He lives in a house of women. Well, one woman and two girls well on their way.

I don’t think he ever imagined being so outnumbered. Then again, even though I really, REALLY wanted to have two girls — I babysat for the sweetest young couple with two girls all through my teenage years — I didn’t really know what I was getting into either.

And sitting at the little round table in the “kid” section at Barnes and Noble yesterday, perusing books with titles like, Growing Up: It’s a Girl Thing and What’s Happening to My Body and The Care and Keeping of You, I realize that I’m getting in deeper and deeper by the year.

My girls aren’t going to be looking at books in the kid section much longer.

I thought 2 a.m. feedings and explosive diapers were difficult. I couldn’t fathom in my new mother haze that the day would come when I’d have to help my girls navigate PMS and tampons and monthly breakouts. That they’d one day need me to tell them exactly “where babies come from” and after laughing hysterically, they’d look at me and ask, “So, you and Daddy did that!?!”

And this is just the beginning. It falls so heavily on me, as the most conspicuous example of womanhood in their lives, to show up and show them what life is all about, how to be a woman in this world and most of all, how to be His woman.

This, I know, is my greatest challenge and highest honor.

Most days, I don’t know where to begin. So, I sit down with His word and remember that finding my place in Him is the surest way of helping my daughters find theirs.

I know so well how difficult the road has been to get past the mean girls of elementary school, the boys who teased in junior high, and the high school boys who never asked me out.

I remember vividly the hours nitpicking in front of the mirror, the relentless insecurity and the tears before falling asleep; the nagging sense that I’d never be truly accepted, fully loved. Even growing up in a strong church family, staying active in youth group, and being surrounded by solid Christian teaching, I still struggled. And I know my girls will too. It’s the way of a fallen world and a merciless enemy.

But, I am a warrior on my knees for their hearts. And I plan to be at their bedside to hold them when they cry, and at the bathroom door reminding them of their beauty as long as it takes to make them believe it.

I don’t doubt the road in front of all three of us will be hard, but I know One strong enough to bring us through . . . and as I hold their hands with one of mine, I hold His with the other.

If you would like to tell us the story of your Mothering Daughters Experience, please grab a button and send me an email at playingsublimely@yahoo.com, I would love to hear from you!  If you would like to simply subscribe to Playing Sublimely and have these posts delivered to your inbox, click here to do, or go to the top right hand side of this page and enter your email address.

If you would like to subscribe to Playing Sublimely, you can click here to do so, or go to the top right hand column of this page and enter your email address.

Today’s Mothering Daughters post comes from Mary, my oldest sister.  You got to know a little of her heart during our Moses Study here at Playing Sublimely.  Today, on this Father’s Day, she writes about her perspective she sees while watching her daughters walk in the shadow of their Daddy. 

How Sweet it is to be Loved by You…

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing to you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning.  I ask that we love one another.  And this is love:  that we walk in obedience to His commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”  2 John 1:5-6

Over the past few months my husband and I have had the amazing opportunity of traveling in Europe with our children.  By train, plane and automobile we have taken our two sons and two daughters to places we had only dreamed of visiting.  Our adventures so far have been full of excitement and wonder, but have also been accompanied by a certain level of stress.  Dragging our brood through airports and train stations can be chaotic to say the least.  So to ensure the children’s safety (and my sanity), Geof and I have developed a system.  Wherever we go, he leads the way, the kids all follow behind him, and I take up the rear, pushing any stragglers back into position.  This simple method has not only kept everyone “in line,” it has also provided me with a beautiful view of one of the many treasures found in having daughters.

Love always protects

As our girls follow along in the shadow of their father, they are completely confident in his protection over them.  They don’t even seem to notice that he is constantly on guard; guiding them in a direction of safety.  His effort to provide security to them is one of his top priorities and has blessed them with the confidence to enjoy the experiences before them, not fear them.

Love always trusts

Regardless of which foreign soil we are trotting across, our daughters faithfully march behind their dad with perfect assurance that he is going to lead us to our intended destination.  And although he likes to attribute this to his excellent “army ranger skills,” I know it is more.  These little soldiers do not only follow him because they have been commanded to do so. They eagerly trust his leadership because he has proved to them since their birth that his love is trustworthy.

Love always hopes

Whether walking in Geneva, Paris, or Flowery Branch, Georgia Kathryn and Kamryn are prayed over by their father.  Their lives have been saturated with the Word of God and they know it.  Geof’s hopes for them certainly reflect those of their Heavenly Father, and they can be sure that his love for them will persevere because he has claimed the promise that “He who began a good work in {them} will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)

Love never fails

Having daughters certainly is one of the greatest blessings of my life, but fewer things bring me greater joy than watching my husband love our little girls.  I marvel at the lessons he is teaching them; ones they don’t even know they are learning.  I trust that the relationship they have with Geof will provide priceless practice in being loved and adored by their Heavenly Father.  I pray that it ultimately leads them to an unshakable confidence in their identity in Christ, never looking for fulfillment elsewhere.  And finally, I am so grateful for the privilege of watching Kathryn and Kamryn walk in the unfailing love of their father, the one here on earth and the Perfect One in eternity.

Thank you to all the many fathers out there who love their little girls; especially mine !

If you would like to tell us the story of your Mothering Daughters Experience, please grab a button and send me an email at playingsublimely@yahoo.com, I would love to hear from you!  If you would like to simply subscribe to Playing Sublimely and have these posts delivered to your inbox, click here to do, or go to the top right hand side of this page and enter your email address.

The Sassy Seamstress is a real life friend of mine.  Our husbands work together, and our children are all about the same ages as one another.  Though our lives are very much alike in many ways, our children are very different!  Ashley has three beautiful daughters, and though she doesn’t find much time for blogging (she spends almost all of her “free time” sewing!) I am so glad she contributed to this series.  She has a heart for raising girls…

Growing up, all I really wanted to be was a mom…well, a wife and a mom, but mainly a mom. I don’t know that I ever imagined myself with boys, girls, or both. I’m quite sure that my husband (although he would never admit it) probably saw himself tossing the baseball around in the backyard with a little guy or teaching him various “guy things”. As it would turn out, we are the proud parents of three very different little girls, each one with their own…well; we’ll just call it “personalities”. One thing that I wasn’t quite prepared for was the drama. I grew up with three brothers and no sisters.  I was so glad when I had my second child and it was a girl.  Finally, I could see firsthand what a sister relationship was like.  Well, little girls provide drama. Add another little girl, and you get more drama. Add one more little girl and you have more drama than you can possibly imagine. Put them all in a car for a road trip without a DVD player and you might as well just plan on being medicated.
I wish I could say our lives were always like the beach picture above, but then again, that would probably be a little boring.  How does a typical day go in our house? You may not want to know. No, seriously, do not enter into this lightly. It starts with nothing other than…yep, you guessed it, drama!!! They all three generally wake up at the same time. Our oldest will antagonize her sister by stating, “I’m going to beat you”…meaning, I’m going to be the first one dressed and ready to go. I generally do not interfere because, truth be told, if a little rivalry gets them downstairs faster then so be it. Then, the oldest will once again antagonize her youngest sister by “using her stool” in the bathroom. Does anyone else see a pattern here? Breakfast usually goes off without a hitch…unless someone gets the last granola bar. They all three go to different schools, so how can they disagree when they are in different places. Once they return home, they typically enjoy playing in a “pretend” world. This is my favorite part of the day because I can listen to them act out their perception of my world. They will usually choose to be some of my friends…oddly enough; none of them is ever me! They will pretend to go to each other’s houses and pick up each other’s children and just simply enjoy each other’s company. I’m glad that this is how they perceive me. I’m glad they don’t do the negative stuff in their pretend world that I sometimes feel I portray too often. As I watch them, it makes me realize how important my job is. It also frightens me. How do I teach them to be compassionate, yet cautious; strong, yet meek and quiet? I strive to be the Proverbs 31 woman and I fail miserably on most days. So, I have finally realized that I can keep a clean house, I can garden and provide food for my family, I can rise early to get things done, and I can even sew their garments. But at the end of the day, all I want my girls to see is that I love and seek Jesus with all my heart and truly desire His will for our lives. 

If you would like to tell us the story of your Mothering Daughters Experience, please grab a button and send me an email at playingsublimely@yahoo.com, I would love to hear from you!  If you would like to simply subscribe to Playing Sublimely and have these posts delivered to your inbox, click here to do, or go to the top right hand side of this page and enter your email address.

Lara is a real life friend of mine. She and I worship on Sunday mornings at the same church. Lara is a speaker and writer, and Lara is passionate for the Word of God.
She is a wife, mother, daughter, and friend who has walked through valleys of death, addiction, and betrayal, and experienced the miraculous ability of God to bring victory in spite of circumstance.
Lara often declares,
“If what I teach does not invade and transform the moments
of my life then I am missing the point.”
You can get more information about Lara and her heart for the Lord at her website: larawilliams.org, or on her blog, tooverflowing.com/.

when she wears all purple

Most weeks I have to run to the store for two more quick things. Just two. Which admittedly turns into twenty.

My three young ones unbuckle and file out as I quickly scan their physical appearance. My oldest is wearing an ensemble she chose herself, complete with varying shades of her favorite color. Purple. Her hair is acting all wild since she no longer lets me touch it without a battle. And I’m pretty sure she wore those socks yesterday.

My middle child has food stains on his clothes from lunch. And I can’t find my youngest one’s shoes. But I shake off the cringe and pile them into the cart with my quick list running through my mind. Paper towels and dish soap. Paper towels and dish soap.

When I get to the band-aid aisle–the third thing I forgot I needed–there she stands. The perfect mom. She pushes her cart with her perfect children sitting nicely, all dressed in matching clothes. Meanwhile my children are now hanging upside down pretending to be monkeys.

I smile and gulp and feel a shade of red flushing my cheeks. She returns a gracious smile. A perfect smile.

But as I turn the corner I have a sinking feeling because I catch a glimpse of my own heart. So I whisper, Lord, why am I embarrassed? And his tender response humbles me. Pride. Pride. Ugh.

Something in me thinks that my children reflect me and my character. If they obey and dress neatly then I must be a really good mom. If they lose their minds and scream through the grocery store then I must really stink. And how dare they ever rebel in their teen years as I did.

But all of it hinges on pride. And pride comes before the fall. Humbling.

My freedom as a mom comes when my identity rests secure in my Lord. When I can separate who I am from how they behave…or what they wear. I pour truth into their little hearts, disciplining out of love and teaching continually. But then I release. And I let them be them. Purple and all. That’s when freedom comes.

If you would like to tell us the story of your Mothering Daughters Experience, please grab a button and send me an email at playingsublimely@yahoo.com, I would love to hear from you! If you would like to simply subscribe to Playing Sublimely and have these posts delivered to your inbox, click here to do, or go to the top right hand side of this page and enter your email address.

photo credit from above:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kgregory/2820416462/