Susie Shellenberger - Raising a Spiritually Strong Daughter: Guiding Her Toward a Faith That Lasts

Raising a Spiritually Strong Daughter
Copyright 2009
Susie Shellenberger

Cover design by Jennifer Parker

Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NCV are from The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations identified TLB are from The Living Bible 1971 owned by assignment by Illinois Regional Bank N.A. (as trustee). Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-44126-290-5

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

To my spiritual heritagethose who have and who continue to speak Gods truth into my life. They are

My parents, Elmer and Marjorie Shellenberger,

Thank you for giving me such a strong spiritual heritage!

Mother , your no-compromise faith in Christ still inspires me. Now that youre with God personally, Im wondering if Hes telling you all the stuff Im asking Him to pass on to you, or if Hes waiting to let me do it in person when I join you in heaven. At any rate, I cant wait to spend eternity with you, and Im excited to catch you up on all Hes doing in my life since you entered heaven.

Dad , Ill never forget the Sunday afternoon Bible stories from that big red book you shared with me just before you dozed off on your weekly nap. Your rendering of Daniel, the three Hebrew children, Job, and all the others werent simply stories. You shared them in such a way that made me believe in their truth; they were reality; they could be my story if I trusted God. And they have inspired me to trust the same God they did and to absorb the Bible as absolute truth. I long to meet my Bible heroes and see if their faces match our imagination.

Lawana , my new mother, thank you for praying for me daily. Do you know how much strength that gives me? I see Jesus in your cheerfulness, your smile, and your positive attitude. I strive to imitate your qualitiesthat in turn reflect Christin my own life.

JOB OPENING

POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy

Job Description: Long-term team player needed for challenging work in an often chaotic environment. Candidate must be willing to work variable hours, including evenings, weekends, and frequent twenty-four-hour shifts. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Skills Required: The candidate must be willing to be hatedat least temporarilyuntil someone needs five dollars. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute and an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of half a million cheap plastic toys and battery-operated devices. Ability to treat flesh wounds a plus. Must be able to think outside the box but not lose track of the box, because you most likely will need it for a school project.

Other Responsibilities: Must be proficient in managing resources fairly unless you want to hear He got more than me for the rest of your life. Candidate must be able to drive motor vehicles safely under loud and adverse conditions while simultaneously practicing skills in conflict resolution.

Possibility for Advancement and Promotion: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, while constantly retraining and updating your skills so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Wages and Compensation: You pay them! A balloon payment is due when the offspring turn eighteen because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could do more.

Benefits: While there is no health insurance, no pension, and no paid holidays, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life.

Mom, the most important job youll ever have has nothing to do with your career, your position, or your title in the workplace. Your most important job of all timeand the highest call on your lifeis to guide your children into an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Because this book is specifically geared toward moms of girls, well focus solely on your daughter. But many of these principles will relate to sons as well. And though Ill most often refer to your daughter in the singular, I realize many reading this will have more than one daughter. Please keep in mind that an approach that works with one daughter may not be the best approach for another daughter. Oftentimes youll simply learn by doing, trying, and trying again.

Being a mom is a full-time job. Even if youre employed outside the home, youve probably realized that motherhood is still a full-time position.

Im not aware of any other job besides motherhood that requires such specific and so many varied responsibilities. You probably read the job description for motherhood on the opposite page. And you know, as extensive and humorous as that was, it still wasnt exhaustive. We could also add the following:

• Ability to discern when discipline is needed and how much and what kind is most appropriate at the time
• Ability to dispense grace, hugs, and affirmation consistently
• Enough medical knowledge to medicate and care for a variety of illnesses, broken bones, and broken hearts
• Counseling skills
• Sufficient education to help with spelling, arithmetic, English, history, algebra, geography, and at least one foreign language
• Veterinary skills to care for the hamsters, snakes, cats, dogs, and other animals your daughter brings home
• Security training to provide a sense of protection for school, friends, dates, and part-time jobs
• Occupational therapist skills to assess functional needs and to help develop potential life skills

As a mom, you are your daughters greatest influence! Can you say with confidence as the apostle Paul did in 1 Corinthians 4:16, Therefore I urge you to imitate me?

Determine right now to be such a reflection of Christ that you can say with confidence, Imitate me.

Does this mean youre to be perfect? Well, Jesus does tell us in Matthew 5:48, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. But before you toss this book on the floor thinking, Im giving up; thats impossible , stick with me for some good news.

We tend to equate perfect with behavior , dont we? I need to bite my tongue more. I shouldnt have reacted that way. Why did I say that? Why am I so angry?