As graduation season is upon us, I thought it would be fitting to share some godly wisdom that my mother shared with my sisters and me as we ventured to college. I am the youngest of three girls. I can remember back when my two older sisters went off to college miles and miles away from home; just before hanging up the phone, my mother would faithfully state, “Be a lady. Keep the Lord Jesus Christ first in your life and know that your Momma loves you.” In my young mind, I heard the phrases. Still, I did not fully begin to pay attention until it was my turn to travel hundreds of miles away to college. My mother uttered the exact words to me each time we embraced before traveling back to school and concluding all our phone conversations.  

You see, going away to college was a time of freedom and independence. It was a time to make my own decisions and follow my own rules, so I thought. It was a time to explore the world and meet people from all over the country with various viewpoints and values. Nevertheless, my mother never failed to remind me of these words. Momma knew what she was saying and was aware of the power of repetition. I have grown to appreciate her comments and will take a moment to break down what she was saying. I know that just as each phrase applied to me as a college student and young adult, the same applies to all of us as God’s children regardless of our chronological age or season in which we are presently entering.

Be a lady. 

Wow! Did she say that? Did she really need to remind me to be a lady? Oh, yes, she did. My mother wanted me to remember who I was. Momma knew the types of circumstances and situations that would present themselves to me as a young lady, so she was merely trying to equip me to handle what was presented. No matter how good he looked, or smoothly he spoke, Momma wanted me to remember my worth. Despite the appeal of that activity or attractiveness of that situation, Momma wanted me to recall 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (NLT). Just as our heavenly Father wants us to remember these points, Momma wanted me to remember that I was a precious child of the Most High God with extreme value and wanted me to live a life worthy of the calling that I had received, as Ephesians 4:1 highlights.  

Keep the Lord Jesus Christ first in your life. 

Momma was also wise enough to know that there would be a host of people, places, and things that would be competing for first place in my life. This phrase was also a reminder for me to find a church home, connect, and get involved to continue to grow in the Lord because it was my relationship with my heavenly Father that would sustain me. What Momma was trying to say was what Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (KJV). Momma wanted me to remember that principle of keeping the Lord first in my life and the promise that everything else would fall into place when I did. Keeping the Lord Jesus Christ first in my life was also a reminder of one of the Ten Commandments, “Thou shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, KJV). I must say, these passages are always valid for us as children of God!

Know that your Momma loves you. 

Last but certainly not least, Momma wanted me to keep in mind that she loved me no matter what. No matter how far apart we were. Momma loved me. Just as Romans 8:35, 38-39 states, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NLT).

Momma wanted me to think of her unconditional love because she knew that challenges and trials would come, and the more that I could remember that Momma loved me, I would be strengthened despite what came my way. The same is true for our heavenly Father. He wants us to remember that we are loved. Even when no one else says that they love us or no one is demonstrating love towards us, God loves us! Unconditionally. No strings attached. And guess what, that is enough to carry us through the highs and lows that this life can bring. 

I am grateful for Momma’s words of wisdom and our heavenly Father’s words that have kept me throughout the years. Even though there have been times when I have not always heeded their words, I am eternally grateful for repetition, the fact that they never gave up (or give up) on me, and for grace and mercy to try again and get it right. Aren’t you glad too?  

Reflect & Relate

What words of wisdom have your parents spoken that you cherish and have carried you throughout the years? What scripture passages have been your favorite go-to sources for strength and guidance? What words of wisdom would you share with the graduates of 2021 to help them in this new season?

Let Us Pray

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for my parents. Thank you for the wisdom that they have imparted in my life. Thank you for helping what they have told me all these years make sense and add so much value to my life. I also want to thank you for your word. Thank you that your word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Please help me continue to heed your instructions to be all you have called me to be and ultimately give you glory with my life. I love and praise you with all my heart. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

If you haven’t already, I invite you to check out my new book, “A Glimpse of Our Father: Lessons Parenthood Reveals for All of God’s Children,” for more inspiration and encouragement.

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