My daughter is a high school senior and early in the school year parents were asked to write a letter to their son or daughter for the senior retreat. The letter was a special gift to tell them how proud and grateful we are for their hard work, achievements and success. It was designed to be an encouragement as they set goals for the upcoming year in their academics, sports, clubs, and with friends/relationships. It was a surprise that they would read to themselves during the retreat.

I thought about the goals and resolutions we establish for ourselves in the new year, and often they include spoken and unspoken desires for our children. What a difference it can make for your children to have a letter from you to remind them and empower them of their greatness and potential! Consider this for your children or another young person in your life!

Here is an excerpt from our  letter to our daughter:

“I can’t believe it – can you – it’s your senior year!           You’re worked so hard to reach this milestone in your life.

This is going to be an awesome year filled with great experiences!

There will be times when you will be challenged, because it will seems like there’s so much to do – with your academics, extra-curriculars, chorus, and family commitments– but remember the “keys” that will unlock anything you face.

Use your time wisely – lay out your plan, keep your calendar up to date, and prioritize so you can focus on the task at hand.

Use your voice – ask for clarity for understanding, ask to be heard, ask for help or advice (early J)

Use your experience – you’ve faced challenges and overcome them, you’ve asked for support and received it, you’ve used your voice to advocate for yourself and others.

Be open to the possibilities – even if you’re afraid (remember – no fear!), even if it’s outside your comfort soon and looks different than what you expected!

Be a good friend, use your gift of compassion and understanding to encourage and lift other people with your words and actions (you are first on this list – be kind to yourself!)

Be confident in who you are and what you believe.

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Your future is so bright and you will fulfill all the dreams and goals that God has placed in your heart, and the plan and purpose He has for your life.

You will be the change you want to see in this world!

We love you, we’re excited for you, we’re so proud of you and admire the young woman you are becoming!

Enjoy your retreat and every experience in your senior year!

Love,

Mom and Dad”

Since I have daughters, I have a heart for girls. We have to take advantage of every opportunity we have to reinfornce their confidence and self worth.  We must remind them of who they are in Christ to arm them with what it will take to neutralize the negative voices and images that can be in the world around them.

Here are some other posts that can help:

Are You A Tulip Trying To Be A Rose?

Guiding Our Girls On A Path To Their Future!

©Bloom in Every Garden 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Today is the anniversary of my father’s transition to heaven – and it reminds me of how much of an opportunity it was to spend 4 years being his partner in his journey for restoration of his health and his journey for a life full of purpose and meaning.

I think about the start of that journey when he experienced a health crisis in 2011, months after my mother’s death. I reflect on how he trusted me to be “the boss” as he called me – to make health, financial, and life decisions for him. As a mother and wife with a career and serving into two ministries at my church – I initially thought I had found myself in the “sandwich generation” – between demand of my own life and now the demands of supporting a parent.

I am sooo glad I quickly discovered some things that would fundamentally change this perspective and make this one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

• The gift of being trusted and having a parent who considered our relationship a partnership (not thinking of it as a burden)
• The opportunity that accompanying him to all his appointments gave me – car time for conversations to hear his reflections, principles, and philosophies on life (not thinking of it as drain on my time)
• The gateway to relationships he gave me from being part of his support team working with his assisted living team and health care professionals who cared for him (not just going through the motions but making an effort to make a connection)
• The restoration of family bonds that having him as part of my daily life gave me and gave my children (instead of seeing the logistics of incorporating him into family events as challenging)

It was so much more about what he was giving to me instead of the demands that were brig being placed on me. The amazing thing is that this wasn’t based on an existing father/daughter relationship – it’s something that we built along the way.

Many of us will be in a position to support our parents through a health challenge of life transition . .and it will present challenges. . . don’t miss what is an oppoturnity and consider the joy you can find being in the “sandwich.”

Here are some other posts that you might find helpful   . . . .

Consider Being An Advocate for Your Loved Ones

Teamwork During a Family Crisis

Emerge Stronger When Faced With Adversity

©Bloom in Every Garden 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.