Role Models

Did you have one of those when you were little?

I like to think I did. 

But really I think I put my focus on too many people who had no right being role models.

Don't get me wrong. 

I love my mom.

My older sister.

My grandma.

But I didn't learn from their mistakes. I didn't seek to do what's right according to their advice.

This beautiful little lady experienced a broken heart this past weekend.

There's a problem with that. Because she is 11 & in 6th grade. She is still a little girl. A baby in my eyes. I can't wrap my head around the fact that she is old enough to have a "boyfriend" let alone cry precious tears when he says those horrible words-"Let's break up."

I've been trying to lead by example with her. I've been trying to encourage her to do daily devotions. To be someone everyone likes. Not to be a gossip. Or a mean girl. I want her to have a heart on fire for Jesus. 

Not boys.

Of course when I talked to her about what happened, she wanted to know when I had my first boyfriend. Sadly I had to tell her I was boy crazy from the first day of kindergarten. And when I was in 6th grade, I made all of the wrong decisions. I wasn't a Christian then. Yea, I grew up in church. But I didn't know the Lord as my savior yet. Little lady immediately told me "You have no place to talk. You did the same stuff."

Ughhh. That killed me. It hurt so bad.

I want her to learn from my example, not do as I did. When I tried explaining that she is a Christian & has accepted the Lord in her heart so she should be doing things differently, she got mad at me. 

I get it. I do. When I was 11 I wanted nothing more than for adults to shut up about all of their advice. And now here I am trying to offer it up to my little sister. 

I want her to be blessed. I want her to have better than I did. I want her to choose differently. To not have the heartache that I experienced.

I want her so badly to love the Lord in a way that makes her stand apart.

Source: etsy.com via Liz on Pinterest

This needs to fill her spirit.

Being a girl is so difficult in this generation. I want to be an influence to them. 

I'm trying to get a girls night started up at church. 

You know...movies, popcorn, nails, girl talk, & devotions. 

On modesty, bullying, boys, love, friends, gossip.

Just something to encourage them. 

To help them navigate life.

Then when I'm done being the annoying big sis to Lexi, I get to start it with this teeny one. 

{I can't imagine how it will be with my own daughters some day}

|She is clothed with strength & dignity, & she laughs without fear of the future.| Proverbs 31:25

Let's encourage our little sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins, friends to laugh instead of cry; to have dignity instead of regret; & to be bold instead of weak.