On Mothers and Daughters

This weekend I hosted a Mother-Daughter Retreat for our Student Life girls and their moms, with the help of the lovely Dawn Heckert; seriously, I was so thankful for her input!
The close to 30 of us moms and daughters spent about 24 hours at a retreat center, talking some about communication and identity, praying and worshipping, and mostly eating food, playing games, and laughing. It was really fun for me to see the interactions between the daughters and their moms since I don't usually get to see that. It was neat to see the love between each pair (or trio) and watch them have goofy and serious moments together.

Let's Talk About It! Discussion

My own mother was on the retreat as well. She's the best. Srsly. My gratefulness for how she's raised me and loved me is something that's hard to put into words. I'm that person that thinks about either of my parents dying and immediately melts into tears. I love them a lot, obv.

I'm hopeful that when I have kids someday, I will be the kind of mother that my mom was and is to me.

• She is unconditionally loving - I never got mixed messages about that, even when I was being a total brat. 
• She loves Jesus more than anything else. I remember days when I would wake up really early and come downstairs to see my mom sitting on our couch in her bathrobe, cup of coffee in hand, engrossed in the Word. She would say good morning, but then go back to her devotion - that was her time with the Lord, not to be interrupted. 
• She is on my side. My mom (and dad) did a really good job of always being in my corner, of supporting me and equipping me, of believing in my abilities and knowing my limits. 
• Aside from Jesus, she puts her marriage first, even before the kids. I remember throughout my childhood, and even now if I happen to be at their house when my dad gets home, whenever my dad got home from work, the first thing my parents would do would be to go upstairs and talk for 15 or 20 minutes. The kids were left to entertain themselves and my parents would debrief about their days. It seems like a little thing, but it's an example I want to follow. 
• My mom is humble. My mom isn't perfect. Occasionally she would lose her temper with me or my siblings (although I can't imagine why; it's not like we were ever little nightmares) or be in a bad mood and snap at me. But after my mom lost it for a minute, she would usually go upstairs for 5 or 10 minutes and then she would come to us and apologize for how she acted. Now, most of the time, her losing her temper was deserved, and so her apology was like heaping coals on our heads, especially because it was so sincere. But that example has taught me a lot about humility and letting your kids know that you aren't perfect. 

Love you, Mama! 

Peace, 

Emily