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Dear Teens, You’ll Make Mistakes–But What Will Your Recovery Be?

Posted by dataperk on August 31, 2020

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    A message I wrote to accompany #loveherwellbook. A message I wrote to accompany #loveherwellbook. Comment DEVO and I’ll message you the link to my new teen girl devotional, an ECPA bestseller since its release last January🩷 ————————————— I have a friend who studied city planning and the purpose of bridges. She said bridges are needed as a city grows. They connect one part of a community to another and offer a safe passage. We related this concept to raising teens – and why bridges matter in the parent-teen relationship. As a child grows up, their world expands and separates them from their family and familiar territory. They need bridges that take them home and safely back to the people who remind them of who they are. Teenagers don’t care what we know until they know that we care, and one way we earn a voice in their lives (and build bridges that last) is by listening, empathizing, and putting ourselves in their shoes to understand what it’s like to be them. Here are a few insights to help you understand what many may be thinking. #parenting #raisingteens #girlmom #girlmompodcast #loveherwellbook #morethanamombook #10truths #likedbook #yoursnothersdevo
    One highlight in my career as an author is getting One highlight in my career as an author is getting to visit Focus on the Family @focusonthefamily, a global Christian ministry in Colorado dedicated to helping families thrive. I love this team, and spending time with them truly feels like time with family. Every week, the “Focus on the Family with Jim Daly” broadcast reaches 6 million listeners through 2,000 radio stations. Today I returned to talk about #isyourdaughterteadybook and give hope to moms and dads raising girls today. It was my 3rd time as a guest, and each time, Harry has joined me, making the trips extra-special. My segments will air next year, and I’ll keep you posted on that. In the meantime you should know that this organization is the real deal - and it’s run like a business so that every dollar donated goes toward ministry programs. As you plan your year-end giving, keep FOFT in mind, as this is one group I can support 110%. A big thank you to everyone who played a role in our visit, specifically Jim Daly, John Fuller, Ashley Bazer, Cynthia Murphy, Danny Huerta, Robin Chambers, Juliette Hayes, Danielle Pitzer, Andrew Tsiao, Katie Simon, Georgia Dunham, Ross Gunn, Austin Light, and Gabriel Nymeyer. We are grateful for you and the life-changing work you do!!
    This December, my youngest daughter turns 16, and This December, my youngest daughter turns 16, and this marks the end of an era for me. For 23 years, I’ve been a chauffeur. My car grew as our family grew, and while I started in a sedan with 1 baby seat, I evolved into a white suburban packed with 4 teenage girls and lots of friends. Today, I’m down to my final child and her friends. I don’t wish this time away. And as I look back, I’m so glad I didn’t begrudge these drives. I’m glad I drove my kids whenever I could. What shaped my perspective was advice that I heard from older parents when my kids were small. They helped me understand that spending time with kids in the car is a gift to be enjoyed, not a burden to be endured. Especially in the teenage years, many of my best conversations with my girls happened in the car. Driving also connected me to their friends and let me speak into their lives too. So moms, when you can, be the driver. Know that this is a temporary season you will miss one day. For more encouragement on this topic (and the perks that driving brings) check out my article on Substack for paid subscribers. Comment DRIVE and I’ll message it to you🤍
    Fun day in Tuscaloosa! Roll Tide!! Fun day in Tuscaloosa! Roll Tide!!
    Dalton, thank you for a wonderful mother/daughter Dalton, thank you for a wonderful mother/daughter event on Thursday at @rivercommunitychurchdalton. I loved getting to meet your community and stroll the streets of your very charming downtown🦚 A big thank you to Suzanne Newton for inviting me to Dalton and creating a very special night. Thank you to Laura Kate Ridley, Alys Brown and Erin Roberts for helping as well!
    I met Bryson Kessler while shopping at her store, I met Bryson Kessler while shopping at her store, @shopcloverandbee, several years ago, and immediately I was drawn to her kind spirit and warmth. Whenever I see her now, we quickly go deep, and even a 5-minute chat is good for my soul. Bryson has enjoyed many blessings, yet she’s also faced deep grief. At 17 years old, she lost her mom to cancer, and then this past summer, she lost her beloved little sister Beth to cancer as well. Caring for Beth during her final days on hospice transformed Bryson’s faith, and now, more than ever, she lives for the hope of heaven and with her eyes fixed on Jesus. Recently Bryson joined me on the Girl Mom Podcast to talk about “Living with an Eternal Mindset.” I loved this conversation and know that you will too. Bring your Kleenex because you may cry like I did, yet you’ll also be filled with hope. Find this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or comment HOPE and I’ll message it to you 🕊️
    Moms, my new devo for teen & college girls makes a Moms, my new devo for teen & college girls makes a meaningful Christmas gift for your daughter. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer🎄 Comment DEVO, and I’ll message you the link. This bestselling book covers 40 topics most relevant to girls today. I wrote it with college girls in mind, yet any girl age 10 or up would enjoy these messages about God and eternal truth. Many middle school moms have used it for Bible studies. Many college moms have bought copies for their daughters’ roomate + suite mates so they can read it together. My philosophy is to simply put books like this on your daughter’s bedside table, knowing that even if she ignores it now, she’ll have truth to turn to on a really hard day, when her heart needs truth the most. #yoursnothersdevo is about learning to find joy in your life rather than fixating on the joy in another girl’s life. My goal is for girls to see that God created them to live authentically - not identically - and embrace the unique story He is writing through them🩷
    Years ago, on a 20th anniversary trip to Italy, Ha Years ago, on a 20th anniversary trip to Italy, Harry and I got a crash course on the life of Michelangelo. Clearly, he was gifted with his hands. But he also had the gift of VISION. And when working with marble, his philosophy was to slowly chip away the stone to uncover that figure hiding inside. “Every block of stone has a statue inside it,” he said, “and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” As parents, we’re called to do the same. God designed us to work with Him to unlock the hidden masterpiece. While we may see just a blank slab of marble, God sees the final result. He loves us (and meets us) exactly where we are today, yet He won’t leave us there because His love transforms us. He helps us become the best version of ourselves through the love of Christ. Who your daughter (or son) is today is not who they will be in 10, 20, or 30 years. Even the most frustrating child has tremendous hidden potential, and learning to see it brings excitement into parenting. It lets us anticipate the future and feel proud of every struggle they overcome that refines them in all the right ways. Don’t wait until your child is “perfect” to love them, because it’s the love you show today - even as they act tough, distant, or ornery - that helps crack the shell around their hidden potential. It’s the love you show today that gives them a glimpse of their Heavenly Father and the hidden treasure that He sees. #parenting #raisingteens #seeingpotential #loveherwellbook #girlmom #girlmompodcast
    Happy 11th birthday to my first book, 10 ULTIMATE Happy 11th birthday to my first book, 10 ULTIMATE TRUTHS GIRLS SHOULD KNOW. What a fun journey!!🎉 Becoming an author for the world’s largest Christian publisher was a dream come true. It came after 7 years of rejection as I wrote 3 fiction novels that will never see the light of day and a door finally opened when a blog post went viral and caught the attention of Thomas Nelson. When I began writing, social media didn’t exist. The only way to get published was to query New York agents and publishers, and it felt impossible to stand out. The fact that the door opened through a totally revamped system still reminds me that God’s ways are higher than ours. Use the gifts He gives you, stay faithful, and trust Him with the details. When 10 Truths released my girls were in grades 6, 4, 2 and 4K. My first readers are now in college and in the workplace….one early reader was Camille’s geometry teacher last year at the junior high! #10truths is now being read by a new generation of moms and girls, and I’m thankful for this chance to speak into their lives too. Next fall we’ll introduce a revised edition of #10truths 🎉 🎉 , so get your copy of the OG now. A big thank you to everyone who’s supported me since day one. You’ll always hold an extra-special place in my heart!
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