A Glimmer of Hope in the Darkness

I don’t think I could have kept walking without the reassurance that there was a glimmer of hope that everything was going to be ok, eventually.

There I stood at the entrance of the dark cave with my daughter. My young son had already decided that he would have no part of it. I’ll admit, I understood his refusal. My heart was racing at the thought of entering the unknown. I looked as far as I could, but all I could see was darkness. Was there a bear? Mountain Lion? A crazy person with an ax?

I took the first unsure steps. My daughter didn’t have any hesitations what so ever.

Then, I saw it. It was a little glimmer of light at the end of the cave.

That little light changed my whole perspective-instantly. I suddenly had a sense of peace and hope…

Looking into that dark cave, reminded of a time past when I was 14 years old. I was sleeping over a friend’s house, and all was well until her drunk dad came in unexpectedly and started to beat the tar out of her right in front of me. Turning to me harshly, He told me I had to leave. Did I mention that it was 3 am. in the morning, and they lived over a bar.

The only ride I could find home was from a drunk lady. She drove me 30 miles outside of town to my house, which was located in a trail park that was over a mile down a hill from the highway.

I expected her to drop me off closer to my house. But instead, she dropped me off at the top by the highway.

As far as I could see, there was only black and darkness. As I begin to walk down the hill, I took slow baby steps trying not to trip over any rocks. I cried off and on the whole way thinking of all the possible things that could go wrong.

Then, I saw it! It was a glimmer of light coming from the trailer park laundromat.

Not wanting to cause drama at home, I decided to sleep curled up on the floor by the washing machine. I was afraid and lost that night and a light in the distance was the only thing that brought me hope.

Jesus said that He is the light of the world…

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

A glimmer of light in darkness will blaze…

“You are the light of the world…like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see”. Matt. 5:14

In both of these situations, a glimmer of light brought me hope. I found the reassurance that I could somehow make it through the obstacle I was facing.

Life can often feel like that cave or dark road: dark and full of unknowns. And taking that next step can seem impossible; however, the reassurance of hope makes those next crucial steps possible.

Darkness of the unknown can overwhelm. But the light of Jesus brings hope.

I didn’t know Jesus that night I sleep on the cold floor. But, I take great confidence in knowing He knew me.

Linked up: Live Free Thursdsay with Suzie Eller

Your Kid…Behind the Scenes: Legacy vs. Label

 My son, Pastor Anthony, wrote this blog post. Gives us moms something to think about. I posted my latest blog…Mom, Behind the Scenes on his blog Croz Blogz. I took a total different approach to show what moms really feel “behind the scenes”. Go check it out!

If you’re a Christian mom or dad, you’ve mostly likely  been pointed to the Bible verse, Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This saying is often used as very constant encouragement for Christian parents (of course it is, it’s from God). The idea of “training up” can be found all throughout scriptures in many different forms. The biggest example of this comes from Jesus Himself when He gives His followers the charge to be disciples who make disciples! Disciple people (train them up) in the life and love of Jesus as you do the same yourself. And as parents, our main calling in this can be found in our homes. Besides our spouse, our calling to disciple our kids is the most important duty we have within our discipleship lives. Heck, Paul says a man cannot even be considered for Eldership if his kids aren’t properly being “trained up” (1 Timothy 3:4). This is a big deal!

So as parents, how should we be training up our children? Well, making disciples is a legacy discussion. We as Christians are called to live with legacy mindsets, meaning we’re not just invested in our own salvation/lives/ministry…we’re called to keep our eyes on how the gospel will advance beyond ourselves. All the way back in Genesis 3, when sin has just entered the world, the Lord tells Satan that one day his head will be crushed by the foot of His son Jesus (Genesis 3:15). Among other things, this was God establishing His redemptive legacy which will unfold over the lives of many people throughout the Bible and even up to where we are in history right now. So as we train up our children, we keep in mind our prayer and desire to see the good news of Jesus carried throughout the lives of our ongoing family tree.

 All that being said, it’s easy for parents to get this calling confused. As a son, and as someone who works with sons and daughters as a (Pastor of Family Ministries) I’ve observed many parents mistaking leaving a legacy with leaving their label on their kids. What do I mean by this? You see, a legacy is something we pass on to our kids. A label is something we put on our kids. A legacy is something we desire to see our kids inherit. A label is something we make our kids feel like they need to carry in order to be fulfilled in the eyes of you. For example, we all know that our kids are so much more than what they do. But how often do we show them this? Do we put certain labels on them (getting good grades, marriage, making money, being well behaved, looking good) and when they fulfill these labels, we give them our approval?

 However, this is not legacy making. If we’ve ever made our kids feel as if they “need” to be Christians in order to receive approval from you, then we’ve just made a label wearer instead of a legacy carrier. If our ultimate desire is for our kids to “not” be like us when we were their age…then we’ve given our children the label of “I have to be better than xyz.” If our kids feel us trying to find our identity in them (If my kids aren’t well behaved good little Christian boys and girls, then I’ll get angry and upset because they’re making me feel like a failure), we’ve just given a label they will carry around in many different ways.

  Labels could be considered the opposite of Proverbs 22:6 in couple different ways. First, these expectations we put on our kids are often things they feel obligated to fulfill. “I don’t really like church, but I go because it makes my parents happy.” “I have to do well in school because my parents don’t want me to be a drop out like them.” “I struggle with whether or not I want to have sex or not because my parents told me if I do then I’ll be a tramp.” And this is hard because feeling obligated to do something for approval rather than desiring to do something because you are loved, is the opposite of the gospel! And if it is the opposite of the gospel, it isn’t proper disciple making! More often than not (I’ve talked to many kids who have experienced this) when kids feel like they need to live under those labels, stress and a great weight fall upon them.

When they can’t fulfill these obligations, there’s footholds for depression (I’m not good enough), rebellion (why even try when I can’t even make my parents happy anyways), self-harm (I just need to find something I can control), and sometimes it could even lead to straying away from the faith as soon as they get out from their parents’ home (close to 80% of young people stray away from the church as soon as they enter college). When we subconsciously tell our kids they need to be a certain way in order to receive our love…it does damage, because as I mentioned earlier…saying these things is not what God says to His children.      

 Lastly, leaving labels on our kids, rather than leaving a legacy through your kids, is not proper discipleship because ultimately (we would never say this, but think about it) we’re telling our kids that we want them to live out being made in our image rather than the image of God. If we’re telling our kids we need them to be a certain way because our identity lies in them (you need to go to church, so I feel like a good Christian mom or dad). Who’s glory are you seeking if they obey?

 If you’re still not sure, really search your heart for why you get so upset when your kids do something that fails to live up to your expectations. We become the “god” our kids want to serve, and our kids sense this from us and respond accordingly. God calls us to proper legacy making discipleship because it raises our kids in the shadow of the cross rather than ours. Being raised up in the gospel, our kids will find the hope, joy, and honor of living out who God has called them to be. Our Lord as made our kids beautiful and wonderful in His image; He’s made them with unique gifts and personalities for his glory. Our kids need us to help cultivate that truth, and if we need that…we will truly fulfill what it means to make disciples.

 Our kids don’t need (or even want) our labels. Heck, the world around them is already throwing enough expectations on them already. Our kids need (they want) us to train them to be the man or woman God has created them to be. We do this by taking what the love of Jesus has done in our lives and using His good foundation to establish a legacy through our kids.

Releasing the Tight Grip

Beginning my married life as a Marine’s wife, I had no problem with packing up my home and children and moving where the orders would take us. I was excited about the new adventure that awaited us.

Plus, it meant my house was guaranteed to be cleaned top to bottom every three years. Clutter was no problem. It was gone!

However, now that I was becoming more mature and sophisticated. I was finding more and more that I didn’t like letting go of stuff…. I am not talking about my overcrowded closet that needs purging, either. I am talking about wanting what God has for me but not wanting to let go of some of the good, even the things that aren’t so good.

 It was easy to purge the stuff I didn’t want; the stuff that made me feel safe was a different story.

From childhood, I learned to build up walls that made me feel safe. It took me awhile to realize I had been hauling those walls and many other things around for years.

The Lord was telling me it was time to do some demolition. Those walls needed to come down.

 Reasons I wanted to keep holding on:

It brought me comfort.

It is not easy to go outside the comfort zones that I had put in place

Could I really trust God?

I would be vulnerable. 

It exposed to others that I didn’t know what I was doing. Yikes!

It turns out that those very walls that were keeping me safe were actually causing me to be in a bondage of fear.

And once those walls were down, the cleaning of the inside was in full force. The true work was able to begin.

 I am continually being made into a new creation.

Ok, my sister, what are you holding on to?  It might be a funky thought pattern that doesn’t line up with God’s word. It might be replacing the negative voices in your head with the solid truth. It might be dying to self, so the radiant fullness of Christ can be made alive in your life. It might be tearing down that wall.

Lord, help us!

As I begin to release that tight grip, it causes me to grow and trust little more and more. I am continuously put in a place where I have to trust God with everything I can’t see.

I am confident that He sees the big picture.  And even though it might not be an easy road, the journey is still worth it. I’m where I am supposed to be. 

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” Phil. 1:6 

 Link ups:  Live Free Thursdsay with Suzie Eller and 3-D Lessons for Life

Headed Straight to the Heart

It almost didn’t even come to a complete surprise to me when my husband muttered out the question I’ve heard and have said a thousand times before….”How do you take the things you know to be truth from the mind to the heart?”

The only thing I could think of at the moment was we get all twisted up. The voices in our head become louder than truth. Circumstances become towering mountains and block our view. We need to get to a place of stillness in our souls, where everything is unmovable and knowing is one thing but believing is life changing:

Nevertheless, I still get all twisted up. I wish I could say I got it all figured out. I start looking for answers and solutions in the wrong places. I start to believe achievement is accomplished apart from God. Or, maybe I start to believe I need to have it all figured it before He could ever love me. Maybe I began to feel like I need to pursue happiness, but happiness is only an imaginary line in the sand that moves forward the minute you think you have reached it.

 “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:1

Renewing my mind by the power of the Holy Spirit is what it’s going to take. I have to turn my thought process around and stop believing the lie and turn to the truth. And this is not based on how I am feeling. Sometimes I have to look truth straight in the face and say, “I believe it!”

 For example, I’m not feeling happy right now, but I know my joy is complete in Christ. I don’t feel like God loves me, but I know God loved me so much He sent His son to die for me. I feel like a complete failure, but I know Christ will finish the work He has started in me. I feel like I can’t do anything right, but I know through Christ I can do all things.

Did you know nothing pleases Satan more than to get you in a stuck place where you have no hope or any peace? It’s because when you are stuck you have little to no effectiveness. You become a dweller, a person who hovers over the same spot in life having no impact. I don’t want to live that way, and I don’t believe you do either. The good news is God loves you right where you are. He wants to use every part of your life for His glory. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Join me in standing upon the truth. If we fall, sisters, we will just get back up, rub the dust off, and keep on standing, believing with all of our heart.

 I am linked up at Live Free Thursdsay with Suzie Eller. Come check it out!

If My Scars Could Talk

We’ve been doing a series at my church called the doctrine of sex. My first thought was, “Whoa, we shouldn’t be talking about the “S” word in the church of all places.” However, the church is the place where God’s truth, in the midst of a perverse world, is supposed to be proclaimed. The question became, “Why aren’t more churches coming against the tide?”

For me, this sermon serious began to stir up a lot of emotion. It would have been easy for me to sit with my head held up high while holding my husband’s hand, pretending we have had the perfect marriage. I wish we could say we fell head over heels in love, kept ourselves pure for just for this special time in history, bought a house with a white picket fence and raised our children and lived happily ever after.

However, my scars proclaim a different story.

You see, I started off my marriage journey broken; I started my journey of mothering broken.

BUT! God restored me. He saw me. He knew me.

“I will lift my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Isreal shall neither slumber  nor sleep.” Psalm 121: 1-4

In the deep pit of unworthiness…

 He showed me that I was loved beyond measure and even though I’d given myself away to others and was shattered into a thousand pieces. He would be the one to make me whole again. My mind could be free of all the visions that a young child should not have seen. My mind could be free of all the depravity. My ears could be silenced from lies that were told to me.

In the clutches of an identity crisis…

I found that my identity could be secure in Christ. I was not dirty and used up because grown men wanted to make me feel that way. I was not cowardly because I wanted to protect those around me from harm, which meant I would say nothing. I was a child who wanted to be secure and loved by someone. I needed a safe place to run, but I could not find one. Even in that dark place, I was seen by God in the dark corner of my soul. He would be the one to raise me out of that pit and give me His name. I would be declared righteous. I would know longer have to search for a name because my Lord would call me: chosen, righteous, redeemed, saint, beloved, whole, complete, and His.

In the shackles of unforgiveness…

I found the grace to forgive. I had to release so my God could heal. By me walking around with festering wounds, I was letting the poison ooze onto every area of my life. I was bitter. I was angry; however, I knew I could not stay in that place. The desire of freedom was too strong. I wanted to be free. I wanted a strong marriage. I wanted to start a new healthy branch on my family tree. I had to turn to the One who would make all things new. I had to turn to the One who would cause good to come from the bad. I had to turn to the One who could transform hearts and take the consuming thoughts captive. He causes the weak to be strong. He is a refuge.

My friend, let my life be a living testimony to you. God sees your pain. He wants to reach down deep and heal those open wounds. Don’t be ashamed to seek help if you need it. One day you will be able to look down at your beautiful scar, and it will shout praises to God.

 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confessions. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Heb. 4: 14-16.

I am linked up at Live Free Thursdsay with Suzie Eller. Come check it out!

Confident, Who Me? (revisted)

Looking back over my life, I would never describe myself as a woman with confidence. However, as the years have gone by the Lord has taken me through various trails and victories, my confidence has increased and is increasing immensely. Along the way (and depending on the day:), I had to realize  my confidence wasn’t based off the things I do. It was solely based off my relationship with Jesus and who He is in my life.

Here is what Dictionary.com has to say about the word confident: 1. Having strong belief or full assurance; sure: confident of fulfillment. 2. Sure of oneself; having no uncertainty about one’s own abilities, correctness, successfulness. 3. Excessively bold; presumptuous. Did you catch that?

“Having no uncertainty about one’s own ability.”

Personally, I’ve had plenty of uncertainties about my own abilities, and this often led to struggles with my self-confidence; furthermore, In the midst of all those uncertainties, I would forget to turn to God for direction and strength; instead I would let the lies of this world shape who I wanted to be. Let’s take a look at what the world describes as a confident woman:

She pushes her way through life with her head erected high not letting anything, so it seems, get in her way. She appears to have it all together. Everything on her life’s list seems to be checked off. She seems fulfilled. The outer appearance is in check, especially when comparing herself to other women. She is bold and presumptuous, even at the expense of other people’s feelings. She doesn’t need to summit to anyone because she is her own person and has a mind of her own (I wanted to be this woman).

Now let’s look at the confident woman of God. She too has her head held high, but not because she thinks she’s all that, but because she knows the One true giver of all things. She is clothed in the splendor of her Lord. She doesn’t have to judge others because she knows from what she has been forgiven. She is busy going about the work that has been given to her. She knows where her source of energy comes from. She can willingly submit to the authority around her because she knows God is the ultimate authority in her life. She can lay her head down each night knowing she has served well, loved well, and given all to the glory of the Lord (I want to be this woman).

Believe me when I say… It is a battle. Also, I can say with confidence, I am a work in progress, as I am sure we all are. However, let us all pursue God in a way that we too will be able to stand with our heads held high. And not because of any great accomplishments we have done, but because of who Christ is in our lives. May we have full assurance that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). As we grow in this true confidence, may others begin to see women who are radiating the reflection of God’s glory.

For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.  Prov. 3:26

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.
 Prov. 14:26
     

I Am Not Yelling!

Apparently, I have a tone. I’m not sure when my voice takes a turn from natural to scary. I don’t even feel it coming into play. Everything seems to be going alright when all of a sudden my peace begins to vanish. My countenance begins to change. I don’t think it’s a very pretty sight.

My young son sure knows when the change has happened, and He is quick to let me know that his world is not all right at that moment. He wonders what happened to my voice. He questions if I am ok or not. This is interesting to me because I don’t recall my older children asking me this (I can be forgetful, too). They just knew that mom meant business, and they’d better straighten up really quick.

 No mom wants to walk around her home sucking all the peace from the air. Notably, that is what seems to happen isn’t it? You’ve heard this saying, “If momma ain’t happy, then one’s gonna be happy!” I wish I could say this saying isn’t true. The truth is we carry so much weight with our words, gestures, and sighs. Check this verse out:

“The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6 

Ouch! Verses like that one sting. I don’t want to defile my body. I don’t want to destroy everything in my path by my words. I want to edify and build up, not tear down. I want to be a peacemaker in my home. 

I know I can’t do this perfectly. I know I can’t begin to do this without the grace of God. I can’t do this without being immersed in the word of God daily. Ladies, I forget, and I forget often. I need help with my thoughts and the words that come out of my mouth.

Thank you, Jesus!

I hope my son begins to see a difference. Not because I have it all figured out, but because his mom is being changed from the inside out. 

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me the way You do. Teach me how to show the same grace that you extend to me on a daily bases. Thank you for revealing things to me, so I can continue to grow in Your righteousness.

“Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:19

Three Minute Reboot: Watch Out for That Trap!

I always think many thoughts when I am driving in the car. I guess it’s my time to zone. So it isn’t far fetching that I was thinking about this topic one day. Oh, how my mind is prone to wonder…

As women, we fall into two traps (Yes, there are plenty more:). One is the need to compare ourselves to someone else. We determine what kind of moms we should be by looking at that mom over there that has it all together. We get our ideas of what a perfect body should look like from the airbrushed woman on TV. We determine our kids are a mess, all because Jane’s kids know who to sit still for more than 2 seconds. We are quick to write ourselves off as failures. We are less quick to see our true value and worth.

The other is trying to be fixer-upper of the world. We carry around way more burdens than our poor shoulders can hold. We carry around our weight and the weight of everyone else, too. It seems impossible to get the place where we can hand ourselves and others over the transforming work of Christ.

I recognize these two because I get tripped up in both of these traps. I’ve had insecurity so bad that it paralyzed me. I’ve carried so much weight and struggled that I’ve buckled under the heavy pressure. I have to often come to the place where I realize I can’t fix myself so how am I going to fix someone else; however, I can lead them to the arms of Jesus. And I cling to the fact that

my value solely comes from Him.

What did Christ really mean when He said, “Come all to me who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”? I think He meant exactly what He said. Give me your insecurity and I will give you security in knowing I am making you into the person you were meant to be. Give Me the heavy weight of this life, and I will give you peace and a hope in what lies ahead.

Ready. Set. Reflect:

Can you relate to any of these two traps? What weight or thoughts of insecurity are you carrying around at this very moment? Is it time for a new thought process? Is it time to hand over that crushing weight to the One who can carry it all?   

Lord, I want to go deeper still. I want to know Your freedom in so many areas of my life. Continue to melt and mold me.

“I am a good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and I am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And the other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:14-16

The Pajama Interview: By Anthony Crosby

An interview my son did with his daughter, Sawyer. Check it out! And you can find his new blog link to the right under…My Blog List.

January 12, 2016Croz Blogz

This was it. The interview of a lifetime. This was my chance to sit down with the great and awe-inspiring Sawyer Supp, on the week of her 4th birthday no less! The moment was here! She arrived still in her pajamas, her hair still affected by a long night’s sleep; this woman knows what it means to command a room with her presence. I welcomed her into a chair at my cool, gray interview table. She sat. She waited. I exhaled all of my anxieties away. It was time; I began asking my questions.

“Question one,” I said strongly to show some sense of my authority to Miss Supp, “So, you just turned 4…what are your big goals heading into this new year?” She took in the question. She thought over it slowly, with great patience. She was like a  wine connoisseur taking in a fine sip of Cabernet Sauvignon. I sat waiting for her answer with great anticipation. “Um, to give this beautiful girl a kiss!” She finally responded as she leaned over and gave her little sister Evaleigh, who was also present at the time of the interview, the best Eskimo kiss I’ve ever seen. I was so blown away! What humility! What compassion! I had never seen such selflessness in my life. It was no wonder the past three years of her life had been so lucrative

“Question two, who is your favorite person?” She sat there, not answering the question, for a great deal of time. You could tell this question interested her very little. It seemed like even the curtains on the wall were more attention grabbing than my interview skills. I began to sweat. Was I blowing this opportunity? No, I couldn’t end it here. “What person would you want to be like when you grow up?” I said, rephrasing the question…hoping to land a bite. “Um, my mom!” She finally answered. Yes! She took the question! Now time for a quick follow-up. “Why?” I quickly asked. “Because she goes like this…” she said as she got up from the table and began to shuffle her feet. She was doing some kind of dance! It was pure art! There were so much history and culture in every step; I couldn’t believe my eyes!

After trading chairs (I made the mistake of sitting in a red chair at the start of the interview, everyone knows Miss Supp loves red! It was a rookie mistake) it was time for question 3. “What is your favorite animal?”This time, she quickly responded by saying “a giraffe!” I went right to the follow-up question that landed me previous success, “why?” She squinted her eyes. You could tell she was in deep, deep thought. I couldn’t wait! The anticipation was killing me! Would she bring up the beauty of a giraffe’s long and majestic neck? Would she marvel at the fact it’s the tallest land animal in the world? Is she amazed by the fact that giraffe’s tounges can reach over 45cm long? What was her reasoning? I had to know! “Why?” I spoke out with anxiousness, “Why?!” You could tell I had worn her down with my intense style of journalism because she came out with her answer. “Because, they go like this…moooooo!”

It was time for our another question. “Why do you love Jesus so much?” She simply smiled; I could tell this was an easy question for Miss Supp. She calmly replied by saying “because He loves us!” I too joined in with a smile after hearing this response. It was a great answer.

Finally, I was down to my last questions. I was gearing up to ask Miss Sawyer her thoughts on the current situation involving America’s economic climate, but before I could get another word out…she had to make a statement, “ok that’s it! No more!” She dashed away from the table faster than the average giraffe (which some are known to get up to 37 mph if you didn’t know). She had decided the interview was over. She went and poured herself a nice piping hot teacup full of imaginary coffee. As I sat at the table, wondering if I should consider that interview a success or not, I heard someone calling out to me from the distance. “Come on and have coffee with me!” I couldn’t believe my ears! It was Miss Supp; she was inviting me over for a beverage! I hurried over and sat down. She poured me a cup, and I have to say (off the record of course) it was the best cup of pretend coffee I’ve ever had.

Why my Mom will Never be my Friend

Well, this all started a couple of months ago when I simply asked my daughter to write a blog post for me ( I am always looking for featured writers). She, undoubtedly, refused and continued to assure me she would never write anything just for the sake of writing ( who does that?) Nevertheless, it came as a big surprise when I found this written note in my Christmas gift. I know! Who Knew! I was completely floored. ~Moms keep pressing on with those babies. God knows!

They say that as you get older the relationship between a mom and daughter will start to turn into a friendship, but to be honest, I hope that will never happen to my mom and me. In my eyes the title of mom is so much greater than the title of friend. A friend is someone you can walk through life and make mistakes with. A mom has already walked the path and looks back to try and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes. A friend is someone you can look in the eye and share your problems. A mom can tell you already have a problem with just one look. A friend gives her advice. A mom gives her wisdom. A Friend can fake it till they make it. A mom knows when it’s time to keep it real. A friend can say hateful words, hurt, and betray you. A mom is there for you every single day despite the hateful things you say.

My mom is the only person I can truly talk to in my life. I can finish her sentences (No, we aren’t twins because there is about a 30 year age difference between us.) and make her laugh. We know each other so well to the point we drive each other crazy. I encourage her to follow her dreams and she encourages me to follow mine. I will have many friends, a few good friends, and a couple of best friends throughout my life, but I will only have one mom who knows me like the back of her hand. The same hand she has used and continues to use to guide me through life. I don’t know about you but why would I want to give that amazingly special bond between my mom and I up to be just friends?

Written by Meranda Crosby