Don’t Give Up or Give In…

Guest Post

By a Christ Follower from California

Saturday’s Story for His Glory!

2020 was truly a challenging year for my daughter and I. She is a 2020 high school graduate and as you can imagine she received a lot of negative news throughout her entire senior school year. She was not able to go to Winter Ball, Senior Ball, run track, run for SGA Treasurer, be around her friends, sign each other’s year books, etc….you get the message. Well, on top of that, she had to stay focused with school work. That was a huge challenge because she got easily distracted here at home and needed to be around a structured environment. I did not give her that because I worked 12hrs a day, 5 days a week. I thought just checking in was enough, apparently it wasn’t.  Her grades dropped and I did a lot of fussing. The fussing and arguments caused a lot of tension between us. To the point, she threatened to leave and stay with her grandmother, my mother. We had to go to counseling because she threatens to leave my house as soon as she turns 18 and I’ll never see her again because I was too controlling and I never listened to her. So, we went to counseling for almost the entire year, but then I found out my mother wanted her out of my house as well but never shared it with me. She was making plans with my daughter to get her out of my house and I never knew until we talked during counseling. I was devastated, I had a new job and could not focus at all. End up losing the job because of it. I confronted my mother about it and she never confessed but her actions made it clear she meant what she was trying to do and will do it again. I needed to end all ties with her….so I thought for a long time. I prayed ABOUT it all. I started taking long walks with my dogs and praying before my God to please help me in every way of my life. My job, my relationship with my kids, help me to know and understand ME, protect me and please continue loving all of me GOD….was some of my cry out to HIM. 

My daughter and I continued with the counseling and I told her I love her with every being in my body. I AM here for you in every way you allow me to be. That same night, we received her acceptance to Tuskegee University. It was me, her brother, and my daughter in the car and we screamed and shouted for joy. She asked if I was happy and I said of course and I asked how she is feeling about the acceptance and she said she was ready for change. I told her I AM TOO!! She asked me if I would ever move to GA. and I told her absolutely. Little do she know it was always in my plans to move. She immediately told everyone about her acceptance and her attitude started to change. Her 18^th birthday was here and I was wondering if she was thinking the same about wanting to still leave my house because before she was ready to leave me. But, the conversation never came back up. Her focus was heading to college. Her grades improved and she was well on her way…

Fast forward….I told my daughter when I dropped her off to college, I am still here for you, but now I have to take care of me. Get my life in order. Get my career back in order because all this time, it was all about her and my son. So, if you don’t hear from me it is because I am doing me so I can continue to provide for them, for us. Through all of this, God taught me patience, resilience, unconditional love, humility, and to STOP and listen to Him. Without Him, I would have gone crazy. Out of my mind.  

My daughter and I’s relationship is getting better and stronger every single day. She sees me for who I am through my actions as well as my consistency. And vice-versa. Her grades are good and she is receiving internships as well as scholarships (hopefully) for next school year. Her counselor/mentor has been a God’s send and she has helped my daughter through some rough patches. She is where she is supposed to be. 

Me….I am taking care of me more and more each day and pushing back from keeping ME on the back burner. I am important too…I just have to remind myself sometimes. 

GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD AND THERE IS NO ONE LIKE HIM!!