Back in December 1990, I was very sick; I had several days where I could not keep food down and was out of work for about a week. My body was at the point where even a drink of water would send me into the bathroom and violently expel it from my body. Every time I stood, I felt as if I was going to collapse. My caring husband took me to our family doctor, who immediately sent me to the hospital – I was extremely dehydrated.  The next 24 hours I spent getting 3 bags of fluids, sleeping, and having tests done to see what was the “problem.” Our caring doctor stopped in and told us what the cause of the sickness was…I was going to have a baby. Okay, not a problem but a blessing.

Knowing that I was going to have a baby changed things. I had to deal with morning sickness for another few weeks, then everything went well, and on June 1, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the world. Over the years, we had our struggles and the “normal” childhood accomplishments – first word, walking, going to school, graduating high school, and completing college.

One day, me and my daughter, Tami, went out to lunch, and the waitress asked us if we were twins. I loved it, but my daughter groaned and said, “she is my mother.” At that point, I had been a Christian for about 25 years, and I realized that she was a “Mini Me,” we look alike on the outside. But what about on the inside?

I had made sure that she was healthy, educated, and had a Christian upbringing. She attended Church regularly and went to a Christian school, but had she learned to love the Lord for herself. As a parents, we can give our children the tools and make sure they “do” all the right things, but it is ultimately their choice to serve the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I have been blessed to see my daughter grow into a lovely woman and more importantly, a Godly one. She has her own relationship with the Lord and has chosen to serve Him. Once I asked her why she chose to follow the Lord, and she said, “Because I saw you always be faithful to the Lord even when things were hard.”

Jesus himself told his disciples after washing their feet.

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Moms and dads, if you learn one thing today – be a Godly example to your children. Not just by making them do the “right” things, but by doing them yourself.