Where’s the owner’s manual for this? As a parent, have you ever asked yourself that question? Throughout my boys’ lives I have often asked this question. Now they are 28, 27, and 24 and I’m still asking!
All three of my sons have a tattoo in Hebrew that means “Warrior”. They all are warriors in their current occupations…literally. Two are in the military (one is currently deployed) and one is a youth pastor. As their mother, I would have hoped for nice “safe” desk jobs. But in my heart of hearts, I know that is not who they are.
I know for sure what I want to do WOULD NOT be in the manual! I want to hold them and rock them, wrap them in bubble wrap from head to toe so they don’t get injured and somehow protect their heart to keep it from getting wounded.
Knowing full well they will never let me put them in bubble wrap, these are the things I do that I’m pretty sure might appear in the manual: pray for them, provide a home base for them, celebrate them, travel across the country to visit them, have Sunday dinner and game day, and the hardest one of all (she says tongue in cheek)…providing free babysitting.
So, until there’s “owner’s manual”, in the spirit of my warriors, I will pray fiercely, hope fiercely and love fiercely.
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Deanna Sturgeon lives in Michigan with her husband of 30 years. A mother of three boys and three grandchildren, she loves spending time with her family and friends, camping, lounging at the beach, and reading. She is learning to embrace what wild Jesus has for her through love, dreams, hope and laughter.
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Loved this entry and love you, dear friend!
Helping men become “warriors” is the ultimate work of a mother.