Raising Up Girls

Raising Up Girls

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Watching my daughter, Lizzie, from across the room, I knew the moment she gave up hope.

We were at a friend’s house, painting canvases just like the Paint Nights advertised all over town, but this event was under the loving tutelage of Terri, who happens to be one of the gentlest, wisest women I know.

As I watched Lizzie struggle with her canvas, I struggled with my role at that moment. Should I swoop in? Should I not swoop in? I had opted for a weird middle ground of periodic background hovering with little bits of help. Because I can’t paint, I can’t say that my help did my daughter any particular favors. And once things got messy, I didn’t know how to fix them.

As my daughter quietly left the room, I trailed behind. “Let’s go get Terri; she’ll know how to fix this,” I whispered, and we struck off in search of her. As I knew she would, Terri came through for us. She cheerily helped Lizzie restart while chatting about how wonderful painting is because you can just wipe it off and start over. The gift of a redo and encouragement from an artist was all Lizzie needed, and her next painting turned out beautifully.

My daughter is coming to an age where she needs the community of other women who love her well. She needs women who speak words of life and encouragement over her, who believe as deeply in her as I do. She needs women who will see glimpses of who she will be at age twenty, thirty, and beyond and who will call it out in her tween and teen years. When my girlfriends co-mother my girl in this way, it is a priceless gift. Watching as another woman comes alongside my daughter with encouragement and instruction brings tears of joy to my eyes and a prayer of thankfulness to my lips.

— Julie

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Watch for the tween and teen girls in your circles, considering how you can actively encourage, cheer on, and mentor them.