Things I want my girls to know
My dear children. I hope that I have balanced out my time well. As a single parent it is hard to be the fun, do everything, eat ice cream for dinner parent and be the disciplinarian. To be the stay up late yet get you up in time for school and church parent. The big birthday parties and going shopping on Saturday parent and working two jobs and 7 days a week to feed you, put braces on your teeth, do therapy, and clothe you parent.
I pray that I've taught you how to be Godly young woman who have balance in your life.
I leave this letter to you so you can remember some important lessons in life that will maybe help you life be peaceful.
#1 Put God First
In Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30, and in Matthew 22:37 God says, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Verse 38 of Matthew 22 says, "This is the first and greatest commandment."
Many temptations will come your way in life. Boys, clothes, money, jobs, friends, and music are some of the distractions that can get in the way of you loving the God that created you. Just like I'm writing you this letter, God has written you a letter much more important. It's called the Bible. Stay focused.
#2 Play every day. Have the faith of a child.
Mark 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
No one has ever been on their death bed and said, "I wish I had worked more." Do arts and crafts for the fun of it. Have fun and play at home
#3 Lie #1: The One With The Most Toys Wins.
Things will not make you happy. Take a look at the movie stars, artists, models, and athletes of today. Look in the news and see how many of them are in rehab, on their 4th or 5th marriage, or in jail for a crime.
These people think that money, fame, furs, diamonds, illegal drugs, alcohol and sex will make them happy.
Matthew 6:20, 21. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Also, there is nothing wrong with having money or toys. Work hard and if God chooses to bless you with riches then use them wisely and always help others.
#4 Don't lose your way.
Life does not come with an instruction manual. Feel free to make mistakes. Make a lot of them, but learn from your mistakes. There are some mistakes that others have made and you need to learn from those and do not make the sames ones.Illegal drugs are never a good idea. Getting pregnant as a teenager is not going make you cool. No one says that you have to know what you want to be when you grow up at the age of 16, or 18, or 25. Keep searching God's will and He will show you the plan, He promises.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.
#5 Don't play dumb.
Being smart is cool. God gave you freckles and your IQ. Use them the best way you know how. Braces are cool and so are glasses. Keep loving science and math. Be a mad scientist or an engineer. Be a marine biologist or a musician. Read, then read some more Books.
#6 Look people in the eyes and listen to what they say
Eye contact is so important. Look at them when they speak to you and ask questions about what they have told you.
#7 Everyone should be important enough to know their names.
Get to know the cashier's name. If there is maintenance in your building or at your school, make sure you know their name and call them by name. No one is less important then you.
#8 Be Healthy and exercise
Practice moderation in all things. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Get regular check up, doctor and dentist. Know your rights about vaccinations. Get out and work out be healthy
#9 Work
Colossians 3:17
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If you find a job you love then you will never work. If you work outside the home then work hard, be early never late, and stay with it. If you are a stay at home mom then be organized and do a good job.
#10 Be a friend. Protect those who can not protect themselves.
Love your neighbor as yourself. Your neighbor is a coworker, the person that lives beside you, the person in the car next to you or in the desk next to you. Your neighbor is Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, gay, straight, male, female. Your neighbor is in jail, under the bridge, or the owner of a company. They are the cab drivers, the bus drivers, the teachers, the parents, the instructors. Love your neighbors.
Most of all. Do not look down on a person with a special need or treat a person with a disability with anything but respect. God created that person to glorify Himself and He has a special purpose in their life. You could learn from that person.
#11 We may be the weaker sex but we hold all the power.
Be gentle on the boys but do not let them own you or disrespect you in any way. Both my girls are black belts in karate, use your self defense.
Rules for dating my daughter:
Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk, you'd better be
delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at
her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you
cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove
them.
Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your
age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off
their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of
your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open
minded about this issue, so I propose his compromise: You may come to
the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big,
and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do
not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I
will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in
place to your waist.
Rule Four:
I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without
utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me
elaborate: when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule Five:
In order for us to get to know each other, you may think we
should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please
do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication
of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the
only word I need from you on his subject is "early."
Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many
opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is
okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little
girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished
with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to
appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do
something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my
daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a
wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns
within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is
dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient
temperature is warm enough to induce my Daughter to wear shorts, tank
tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a
goose down parka zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic
or sexual theme are to be avoided. Movies, which feature chainsaws, are
okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a pot-bellied, balding,
middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter,
I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you
where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a
shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to
mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in
over a rice paddy outside of Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting
up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait
for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the
driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak
the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought
my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no
need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is
mine.
#12 I will always be here for you.
My home is your home. You are always welcome. If you need to talk, I will be here. If you need me to pick you up from a party, I will do so even if it is 2:00 am.
My sweet beautiful girls. I am always here for you and I love you very much.
~Mom ~
