Shoes are a visual example of a home filled with people. And hopefully a home where your daughter wants to hang out with her friends. Girls need time to be with their friends, but they also really need time with their mamas. That is just one of the things we can give our daughters. I asked junior high girls what they wanted their moms to give them. Besides the occasional answer of a “new fancy dress,” all of the answers fit into similar categories.
Now for the most important things that we can give our daughters:
Love (always)
When these girls were sharing what they needed from their mamas, one word kept coming up. It actually wasn’t love because I think so often girls are looking for outward examples of that love, but the one word came up more than the rest: hug. A hug is evidence of someone who loves you. Someone who cares that she has had a bad day. Someone who is your biggest fan no matter what. Our family has a sign over our front door that reads: Forever, For Always, and No Matter What. And our kids know that is the answer to the question, “How do we love you?”
Our daughters need signs of our love. For some it might be a hug. For others, it is taking her for a mocha. Each girl will be different, but each one also needs to hear that she is loved. Tell her you love her just because she is in your family. Tell her often and always. This love will give her confidence and security.
Jesus (Amen!)
I remember when my daughter was only four years old and every night she would ask what I would do when she went to sleep. I would tell her that I was going to read my Bible and then go to sleep myself (Okay, see I was almost honest. Sometimes, my husband and I watched a movie first). One night, after I tucked her in, she called out after me, “Tell Jesus I said ‘Hi.’” Even at that young age, she was finding out that Jesus was important to me. Our daughters need to know who Jesus is in our lives so that she can know who He is in her life and make her faith in Jesus her own. Read the Bible with her. Read the Bible to her. Talk about His amazing gift of grace on the cross more than just at Easter. When she struggles, remind her that He can be her strength. If she is celebrating something, take time to share that all good things come from Him (James 1:17). Pray often for her and with her.
We can pray our daughters will find a love from Jesus that will fill the very need that He created in her to be loved by Him.
Let us join together now in hope and a prayer that our daughters will get these from us. We are in this together, thankful for this chance to love our daughters in some wonderful ways. We can even be thankful for many shoes for that just means more chances to share His love in the lives of these little girls.
What are some other things that you would add that we need to give to our daughter?
Written by Angie Ryg
