Awaiting her name to be called to receive her diploma!
Y’all know the first thing I do on Friday morning, yes, even before coffee, is go to my hubs’ computer in the laundry room and punch in www.katemotaung.dot.com! I don’t read a thing except for that one word prompt! After that, I go back to the kitchen, get my coffee, go to my chair in the living room, write in my journal/daytimer the normal morning stuff and all the while I’m pondering the word. Today’s word immediately struck a chord and I was tickled pink because I was hoping I could incorporate our girl’s graduation into the topic – God is faithful like that – it works beyond perfectly! I have a lot to say about this word….oh I forgot to tell you, today’s prompt is …
FEAR
click, click, click…five minutes on the dial timer…
I loathe fear and I’ll tell you why. Number 1 it is from the very pit of hell. Number 2 I’ve been struck hard with it and paralyzed by it. I despise fear. See that girl in the photo? She’s our Hannah girl, she (and her cousin, Simon) have my very heart – I love them both to the moon, infinity and beyond! Hannah’s mom lives in fear – it dictates every step she takes, I hate it for her and I have tried over and over, sometimes successfully, to push her to step out of fear and do something brave.
Hannah began coming to our home in NC every single summer when she was five years old. Now, even at five, I began to see the fear factor raising its ugly head and my spirit rose up within me and said, “NO DEVIL, this girl is NOT GOING TO BE AFRAID.”
We began the practice of DOING IT AFRAID (thank you, Joyce Meyer!)! And afraid, we…
- went on a boat and jumped off into the lake
- repelled a stationary fabricated rock wall
- drove Grandpa’s old Chevy pickup truck up and down our dirt road, avoiding the creek when doing the hard turn at the end of the holler!
- went to day camp while I worked
- rode a horse
- hiked to the top of the mountain
- slept with the windows open
- stayed upstairs all night with us downstairs in our room
- cooked an entire meal by herself
- went to a bonfire without me
- entering the 11th grade she moved to NC to finish school (lonnnng story but one with a very happy ending!)
(time’s up but I’m going to finish this!)
Every time the fear bug began to invade, we would sing – to this day it is our mantra.
Be bold – be strong…FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD GOES WITH YOU!
Today, at 18-1/2, a high school graduate, headed to college, our girl is BRAVE.
She is my BRAVEHEART – she walks with #NOFEAR.
xo
Julie Lefebure says
June 19, 2015 at 10:26 amLove this! And I appreciate the steps you took to help Hannah come against fear. What a beautiful, brave girl! My son graduated from high school this year too. What an exciting time it is for them. Praying for each one to go boldly forward with #nofear. Many blessings to you! Following you at FMF.
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 11:33 amJulie, congrats to your son! Rah Rah the class of 2015. Thanks so much for swinging by!
Kitty Lawrence says
June 19, 2015 at 11:14 amSus….fear is a special tool of Satan. He knows ????? better than us just how great GOD has equipped us but if he can stop us with fear………….. You know the rest.
Just this week I heard Joyce Meyer say as only she can, “Stop being overwhelemed”! Fear attempts to overwhelm. It’s hateful, it’s of satan and his buddies and as you said from the pit of hell.
I remember that little girl who was afraid to ride a bike……. FAITH always overcomes fear and with the aid of her NC family and much prayer, God has instilled in her FAITH. Good work Mimi.
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 11:33 amK…Your last three words…quickened my heart and brought tears. Oh my, how emotional I am!!! IF I had just a wee part of this child’s faith development, I am beyond words of gratitude. What a holy and high privilege. Oh Lord let it be so.
Messy Mom says
June 19, 2015 at 11:16 amWhat a sweet tribute. I just love reading about your heart for your family. That mantra is so great too. Go Hannah!
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 11:30 amNatalie, there is a song with the words but I cannot remember who sang it – but it’s a good one. Thanks, always, for stopping by my young friend!
Ruthie Gray says
June 19, 2015 at 11:38 amGood for you – teaching her to face her fears head on! I love the picture with the letter tiles. You and I are alike with this FMF thing – I can’t wait to see the word prompt, but then I let it ruminate. Is that cheating? I hope not! Because I had a direction I wanted to go t00 and that was Father’s Day and my dad. Heaven knows I’ve had fears concerning him and it worked out perfectly. Thanks for sharing again today, I love reading about your life and connecting each week!
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 11:42 amRuth, ME TOO! And, no, it is not cheating. It is being thoughtful. LOL! Thank you for your extreme kind words.
Sarah says
June 19, 2015 at 11:47 amLove this! Hannah is so blessed to have you to walk alongside her as you work through your fears together. Thank you for sharing
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 11:54 amTHANK YOU for reading and taking the time to visit Hope Heart Home today, Sarah!
Kitty Lawrence says
June 19, 2015 at 12:04 pmGOD gave children grandparents for a reason. He knew how they would be needed. He’s so smart.
(:
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 12:27 pmxo
Tara says
June 19, 2015 at 12:55 pmYour love for Hannah (and Simon) beams through this post. You taught her to be brave, trust in God and not fear. Loved this post!!
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 1:04 pmThank you, Tara – they are awesome kids!
Tammy Belau says
June 19, 2015 at 3:02 pmSusan,
this reminds me so much of the Proverbs 31 woman. I am so thankful that you have modeled her for Hannah! “She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.” (verse 25)
Thank you for your encouragement and sense of adventure! If you have a spare moment, here’s a brave video from a retreat I attended in May in Ashland, Nebraska. We had to climb a power pole, stand atop (I was thinking of the Survivor show when I saw it), then turn around and leap off and hit a swinging ball that was over 6 feet away from us. (all the while harnessed to a rope and pulley with three people below anchoring us)
https://youtu.be/6t_So1cjwaE
You should try it! You’d love it! 😀
Love,
Tammy (tammysincerity)
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 4:50 pmOh my word, girl, not sure I could do it! I did go zip-lining a couple of summers ago. My bucket list is not all that adventurous!!! I will watch the video for sure. xo
Marie says
June 19, 2015 at 5:39 pmDoing it afraid! I love that!
Fear has kept me from a lot of things. Experiences, opportunities, relationships. Now, at almost 31, I’m just disgusted with it. I see older women who are still ruled by their fear and I just don’t want that to be me.
So, doing it afraid. I’ll be giving that a try!
admin says
June 19, 2015 at 8:34 pmIt’s never too late to do it afraid! Blessings, Marie!
Anita Ojeda says
June 19, 2015 at 10:25 pmCongratulations to your Hannah! I know with brave examples in her life, she’ll learn to live in the Father’s love (and outside the bonds of fear).
admin says
June 20, 2015 at 8:31 amThank you, Anita.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser says
June 20, 2015 at 1:09 amI love this, and the courage that’s evident in her as she looks into the camera.
You’ve done well by her; be proud!
admin says
June 20, 2015 at 8:31 amI am, Andrew, I am.
Marni Nicholas says
June 25, 2015 at 1:31 pmI’m SO proud of our Han too!!! What an honor its been to help train up this young daughter!
admin says
June 25, 2015 at 2:27 pmAnd, you have done an awesome job. Mom.
Sonya Tedder says
June 29, 2015 at 6:11 pmLoved reading this… I’ve struggled from fear in many ways during a large part of my life. I’ll never forget the Pastor at the Morrin’s church preaching about worrying and fear–it has stuck with me for so Many years. Although, it will occasionally enter my mind (especially with a teenager), in which I dismiss, his words healed me from my fears and worries. My biggest fear after going through a depression many years ago was death. Today, I never fear death, the Lord took my depression away as well as my fear of death, for I know where I, as well as my daughter, will be when it is our time leave this earth. It’s such a blessing to have something to look forward to after this worldly world. Thank you for sharing!
admin says
June 30, 2015 at 9:10 amWell Sonya, this fills my heart with such joy and peace! Three things: so glad we re-connected; glad you visited my blog; AND BEST OF ALL – YOU HAVE JOY & PEACE IN CHRIST!
Sonya Tedder says
June 29, 2015 at 6:12 pmAnd, Hannah is a beautiful and lucky girl to have as a role model in her life. What a blessing you both must be to one another. Congrats to her!
admin says
June 30, 2015 at 9:11 am🙂 I’m blessed to have her!