Lessons From a Mother's Heart to Her College-Bound Daughter: You Are Loved

We will be helping our youngest daughter, Grace, make the first-time move on campus in just a few days.  In all the excitement and chaos, how do I slow time to put into words she will hear, the things so important for her to know and understand?  Holy Spirit, come.  Fill my heart that I might convey these lessons that are monopolizing my worried heart; and permeate her heart to hear what You want her to hear. 

And so, here we are. Tomorrow your fantastic journey begins.  When those kinds of days have happened for me, I couldn’t help reflecting on where I came from before I set out on where I was going.  I’m curious to know what will be in your thoughts.

For me as your mother, there are images of my littlest princess, your chunky China cheeks and chocolate eyes carrying around your well-loved stuffed “Dodum”.  Picking violets in the yard with Joelle, violin lessons, cheer competitions, choir concerts… They have all flown by from that day when your father and I traveled around the world to China, and they placed a scared, precious baby girl in my arms, and I have never let go. 

We have loved you more than life itself.  While you are not a child from my womb, you are the treasured child of my heart.  Always.  Forever you are my sweet daughter, and I am so overwhelmingly grateful to God for the tremendous gift of my Graciebeth. 

No matter where life takes you, we are always here for you.  We are your biggest fans.  We are happy when you’re happy and will share in your struggles with our love and support however we can.  Just know that I will always be praying for you.  It is my number one job, and I take it very seriously. 

And my prayers will go something like this…

Dear, Jesus, how can I adequately thank You for the gift of our daughter, Grace?  It is impossible.  I praise You for Your tremendous goodness and gifts to us.  So many things I want for her in her life, so many worries I have, but with full confidence I place her in Your Sacred Heart, and within the heart of the Blessed Mother, that she will wrap her in the mantle of her grace and protection. 

Give our Grace wisdom and discernment as she meets new and influential people, that she recognizes attempts to indoctrinate her mind with agendas that are not Your will.  Give her courage to stand up for what is real Truth.  Help her, that she will never loose the gift of her Catholic faith and give her a particular life-long love of the Holy Eucharist.  Always keep her safe from all harm, danger and evil, Lord, as you know this will trouble my heart.  Infuse in her mind the knowledge of her dignity as a woman of God and guard the gift of her virginity.  Make her a light on a lampstand for all those who meet her.  Give her a kind heart to those in need that she will recognize that everyone is broken and in need of God’s love and mercy.  Impart the gift of “gratitude grace” that her life may be joyful and always focused on the many blessings she has, and the strength to step outside the box and cease the day.  Finally, let her journey through her life with the sure knowledge that she is loved. Always, no matter what.  Amen

Hail, Mary…