Who Do You Want to Be?

give away

 

If you are joining me here today from my devotion with Proverbs 31 Ministries, welcome!

“Who do you want to be?” is a question particularly applicable in our home right now. This Sunday, our daughter, Mariah will be graduating from high school. In a couple of short months we’ll be dropping her off at college. My days of daily interaction will come to an end as she embarks on her new life of independence.

While Mariah doesn’t have a clear picture of what she wants to study and major in, I believe that this season of independence will be about more than getting a degree. It will be a time for her to make choices and take risks which will determine who she will become.

I think one of the best things I can do to prepare Mariah for college, as well as Madi for her junior year of high school, is having conversations about upcoming scenarios.

The girls on your dorm floor start criticizing your RA. How will you handle the situation? 

What will you do when the party you are attending turns in a wrong direction? How can you remove yourself from the situation, without projecting a judgmental attitude?    

When the guy you’re dating takes liberties you aren’t comfortable with, how will you respond? 

Whether it is our children making the decisions or us, the words we say and the choices we make determine the person we are as well as the women are becoming. 

We want to be women who are know by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith and self-control. To display these traits, we need to slow down the words we say; making them fewer and more intentional. Deliberate about the actions we do…or do not do, we become aware that with each choice we make, we are becoming someone.

Who do you want to be?

You may have already chosen your life career; what you want to do is no longer a question. But who I want to be is a question I need to ask myself and my kids every day.

Today, I’m giving away an “i Am” bracelet, to help remind your girl of who she wants to be, as well as a copy of each of my books: His Revolutionary Love and Devotions for a Revolutionary Year. Just share in the comments below what character trait you would like to help your child work on this summer!

Need help investing in your girl to become the girl God wants her to be? Try some of these resources:

* Visit my website and click on “freebies” for some free conversation starters, dating guidelines and more!

* Plan some mother/daughter bonding time! Join me in one of the many cities I will be speaking in this coming year! Check my schedule for the city nearest you!

* Give a graduate a gift of “His Revolutionary Love” or “Devotions for a Revolutionary Year” to help them become who she wants to be!

* Start a summer study with your girl of “His Revolutionary Love”; ask her friends to join you! Click on “freebies” for the free leadership guide!

Invest

Lynn

19 Comments

  1. What a powerful message!

    As a teacher, I have noticed that schools are putting more and more emphasis on “what” students will be after graduation. Earlier and earlier we begin talking college and career readiness. If only they would put that much emphasis on “who” students will be and developing character. I think the student and the world would be much better off.

  2. I so loved this! What a powerful question for us and our kids, and SO much more important than WHAT we do in life. I’m looking forward to asking my sons this question today. thanks so much for your ministry! I help lead a high school girls bible study and i’ve benefited greatly from your wisdom….i need it because I only have boys!!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thank you SO much for investing in girls, Leslie! You are just the type of woman I pray Jesus to send to those who need Him!

  3. My sil and I were talking yesterday about where our kids are headed in the future. I think this is a great perspective. College and career choices are only part of the picture. I plan to share this message with her, too, since she has 5 girls!

  4. Thanks for the freebies! I often need a conversation starter with my teen 🙂

  5. Thank you for the reminder! My girls are 7 and 4 but it is never too early to start talking about the ‘who’.

  6. Lynn,

    What perfect timing of this devotion. My daughter is 17 and she just graduated on this past Saturday and I had been looking for a special devotion for her. This message was an awesome reminder to myself as well. Sometimes we feel we havent been as successful in our careers but when I think upon Gal 5:22 I am reminded that evidence of the fruit of the spirit in my character is worth more than anything in this world. Thank you for such an awesome devotion. Blessings to you and your family.

  7. thanks so much for a mindful devotional. The Fruit of the Spirit was recently on my mind. It seems quite overwhelming to keep all of its ‘ingredients’ in check and growing, but my hope is that it is possible to succeed 🙂

  8. I just wanted to say I’m a teen and I have both of Lynn’s books. They have impacted me and empowered me through my teen years. I would greatly suggest anyone that’s a teen to dig into them! 🙂

    Thank you Mrs Lynn!

    ~Heather

  9. Hi Lynn,

    I was directed over here from the devo from proverbs 31 today they stated you were having a giveaway and although I am 27 I have two very young daughters 7 and 5.. I would like to win if you are holding a giveaway for the reason that I did grow up in church with my mother my father unsaved and she never really knew how to direct me in the right path or have an open line of communication, I don’t blame her but I was very rebellious and has no self confidence throughout my teen years and I made very bad choices. I would love to have direction and prepare myself so that I can bless my girls and teach them how special they are and who they are in Christ so they don’t end up learning as they go. Thank you for the beautiful message 🙂 <3

  10. TY for this post! We have 3 girls and my prayer is that they will follow Jesus all their lives! This is a great reminder to pray for our children and lead them in the ways of Jesus and have them read their Bibles!! Don’t see where they giveaway is for the I AM bracelet, though!! God Bless you and your awesome ministry! 🙂

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Julie,

      Thank you so much for the reminder on the bracelet and books give away! I messed up! So…I have fixed it now and will definitely be giving those away! I’ll include of who have commented so far in the drawing!

      Thank you again!

  11. Thank you Lynn. My daughter turned 16 so this is great timing to talk to her about this. At school they are already pushing them about the “what” part and plans for college.

  12. Amanda Klaumann says:

    I would like to share with my daughter the importance of kindness and gentleness because this world is full of harsh, abrasive, in your face realities and it is such a breath of fresh air to meet someone who is kind, gentle and loving.

  13. Hi Lynn! Thank you for your sharing and opportunity to receive your book! My oldest daughter, 18, has always been strong-willed. Fortunately it proved to serve her well in life, always maintaining her Christian values. As she is entering the adult world, I’m afraid she is too “rough around the edges”. I pray for her gift to be of gentleness and to be more approachable. She certainly means well, but brutal honesty is not always the answer! Thanks so much!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Got one of those too, Elaine!

  14. “You may have already chosen your life career; what you want to do is no longer a question. But who I want to be . . . ” (Your words)

    Excellent to think about at ANY age.

  15. I think i should work with my daughter on patience and joy. Usually teens have a hard time with older or younger people because they have no patience. And joy because she complains too much and always takes things too seriously. I would really appreciate to win the book. Right now money is tight. Thanks.

  16. Halona Luna says:

    I loved your message. I would love to give all three of my girls the bracelet and books. As a former Girl Scout leader and mother of three girls, there are so many traits I struggle with to teach my girls. I want to teach them so much & pray that God will guide me & them to show His love & compassion.

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