Happy Friday, Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday morning in my Sweet Home Alabama!
You all are in for a real treat this morning! My Beautiful Bride, Kathy, shares a beautiful testimony of faith, hope, and love. There are great nuggets of wisdom for all of us throughout this heartfelt message. Enjoy!
BUCKLE UP! I have a lot on my mind.
I believe a mom is one of the greatest callings God can give a woman, and I truly believe the most important work you will ever do is within the walls of your home. Being a mother means your heart is no longer your own: it wanders wherever your children are, no matter their age.
The past two years have been a time of strength I never knew I had, of praying on my knees, of growth in all areas, of learning about a faith I never knew I had as I became a military mom, not to just one son, but two. I have learned that being in this role sure does carry a unique weight, one that stretches the heart in ways I never could have imagined.
As a mom of two sons serving in the military, I live in great pride and quiet surrender. Pride in the men that have become, and learning to surrender to a mighty God who holds them when I cannot. Truly, I am incredibly proud of my three boys. I am proud of them not for what they do right, or because they earned it. I am proud of them because they are mine. God entrusted them to me, and love is woven into my soul.
I know my three boys are a gift from the Lord. I prayed over them as babies, asking God to guide their lives for His purpose, their steps, shape their character, and now I am watching their lives unfold. This is not always easily done, but always faithfully done. To be honest, I struggle. It's part of letting them go and watching their prayers, their hopes, their dreams unfold is the best blessing.
There is something sacred and honoring about watching your children step into a calling that requires courage, discipline, and sacrifice. They have chosen a path that demands much of them, and in turn, it asks much of me, too. There are days when I miss them deeply, when the silence feels louder than it should, and when my heart aches just to hug them again. In those moments, I am reminded that they were never truly mine to keep – they were always His.
Being a military mom has also taught me the power of prayer like never before. I pray for their safety, leadership, friendships, families, and faith. I did gain a beautiful daughter-in-love two years ago. I pray they will stand firm in who they are and whose they are. I ask God to surround them with His protection and peace, even in the unknown. This applies to all three of my boys.
My faith has become my anchor. I am learning to trust God in a deeper way than ever before, to release my fears into His hands, and to believe that He goes before them wherever they are sent. Boy, that is heavy. When I don’t know the details, I rest in the truth that God does. When I feel helpless, I lean into His strength. Scripture is more than words; it is my lifeline… “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8 I hold tight to that promise. I lay them at the Cross every day, and there are days I want to pick them back up.
This journey isn’t always easy, but it is deeply meaningful. It has drawn me closer to God and reminded me that even in the hardest seasons, He is always at work. I am a mom of three boys, a military mom, but more than that, I am a mother held by His faith, trusting the One who holds my boys in His care.
I am going to pivot now. Hang tight! After already entrusting my two boys to the Lord as they stepped into military life, I thought my heart had learned what it meant to let go – but this goodbye felt different. My middle son, my last to leave, had moved back home for a year and was now pulling out of the driveway, and I stood there watching him drive away for his new adventure. Going back into the house felt still in a way it never had before. Yet even in the ache, I felt God gently reminding me that this, too, was part of His plan. The same faithful hands that carried his brothers into their calling were now guiding him into his own. As the truck disappeared from sight, I whispered a prayer – not just of protection, but of trust – knowing that while my home was no longer full in the same way, my heart was still anchored in a God who goes with each of my boys wherever they go.
While I may not be beside them in their daily lives, I know that God is. He is closer than any distance, stronger than any fear, and faithful beyond measure. As parents, we are in a season that calls for wisdom and courage as we release our children into adulthood. As much as we love them, it is not healthy for our grown children to remain in our home. There is a natural, God-designed transition into independence. Allowing our children to step out, take on responsibility, and build their own lives is part of loving them well. It teaches them to trust God for themselves, to stand firm in their own faith, and to grow into who He has called them to be. As Pastor Josh Lipscomb of Liberty Church in Pensacola said, “Our children need their own revelation of Jesus.” I will add that they also need their own revelation to find their purpose and what it means to become an adult.
Now, to my marriage: as the days and years unfold, and the house grows quieter, I begin to realize that what we have been building was never just a family – it was also a marriage meant to last beyond the raising of our children. This, my friends, I believe, is the best gift we can give to our children. What remains now is the covenant that Kevin and I made before God. A good marriage in this season just doesn’t happen. We have had storms, but we continually choose each other and lay each other at the Cross every day. We have forgiven when we are hurt, been patient when we are tired, and shown grace when we didn’t always get it right. God never intended for our marriage to revolve solely around our children. They are a gift, a calling, and a season. Our spouse is always meant to be our lifelong partner and calling. When Christ remains at the center, even in the transition of an empty nest, the bond only strengthens. Kevin and I continue to keep God the center. Our faith-filled marriage after our children are gone is a testimony. It shows them that love rooted in Christ endures, that commitment is not seasonal. We lean in, hand in hand, trusting the same God who walked us through the chaos of raising three boys will walk us into this next chapter with purpose, joy, and a renewed love for one another. This new season is not a loss; it's an invitation to rediscover one another. My prayer is to embrace who we are now and our new journey. Do we get this right all the time? Heck no, but we are Christians under construction until we take our last breath. As Kevin has always taught me, I will strive to fight for our marriage and to love unconditionally, even when I struggle.
Our lives look different now, our family looks different now, but I am determined to love and embrace every season. I encourage you all to do the same because I promise you the days are long, but the years are short. Your children are going to leave you; you want them to, but embrace every season and keep your marriage strong.
In closing, my door and my heart will always be open. My role has shifted as a mom. I am now an encourager, a prayer warrior, and a safe place to land when needed, rather than the center of their daily lives. You too, Dad. To my three boys, turn to Him always, and return with Honor.
I love you all until the day I take my last breath-
