Just before May 2011, I was preparing for our summer break with my daughters, Emma (13) and Joanna (10). I can't believe how old they are. It just flies by. The Lord saved me about 11 years ago. In an effort to pour more of the scriptures into our lives, the Lord directed me to several books. These books were written by young ladies who are writing to their generation about daughterhood.
The books were Joyfully at Home by Jasmine Baucham and So Much More by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin. My daughters and I listened to a CD called Strength and Dignity by the Botkin sisters and that really had an impact on us.
These resources gave us something to think about. The bottom line is that we can be useful and purposeful as daughters. This time is not just to sit back and enjoy the ride.
I liken it to the Proverbs 31 women. Did she just coast along in her family, eventually met a man, put a white dress on and walk down an aisle, then drive off to a new street address with her new man and becomes the Proverb 31 woman. I DON'T THINK SO.
This time, within the home, our daughters are in training for their future. The things that they learn from us as parents are priceless.
There were some effective changes in our girls this last summer, so wonderfully, we had to share them with you here.
My girls and I, with the blessings of my husband, created three day long retreats. Once a month we invited about 30 young ladies (ages 10-17) over for a six hour retreat.
We covered three topics:
First Retreat:
- Learning from our Mothers, cooking, running a home, scheduling, sewing, actively seeking instruction and wisdom.
Second Retreat:
- Giving our hearts to our Fathers for protection and his wisdom. Cultivating our talents to help our fathers in their work, ministry or home life. Becoming a Help-Mate in training.
- Sanctification - Pop Quizzes that life gives us. Are we living out our faith only when it is going well or do we suffer with dignity and respect even when we feel wronged. Helping them stay under the authority until they gain understanding for the reasons for what is allowed or not allowed in their families. Sanctification is God's way of showing us we belong to Him or do we through our consciences off to fulfill our own desires. We can remove ourselves from protection and dignity. It takes great strength of Character to submit.
I will spend the next few weeks helping you outline how to host your own retreat to come alongside the young ladies in your lives. Our retreats were for ages 10-17 but I would be open to even someone younger.
My daughters were so instrumental in the whole process. I set the tone for the Retreat. I wanted it to be a Royal Court atmosphere. Something that didn't say birthday party, but that they were brought here so we could convey a mature message for them to take seriously.
I let them run with ideas, plan menus, bake and set tables and decorations. They handled the check in process, the name tags and even putting the small groups together for the discussion questions. I just over saw this process keeping them on track and mindful that I was the one that was overseeing the process. This is important because you are not letting go of your modeling womanhood. You are showing that you are under your husband's leadership and that they were under our leadership.
You are not trying to create independent leaders. This is important. If we do, we will make it so much harder on them to come up under their future husband's leadership. And if the mission field calls them, they will most likely be counseling married woman. They should be able to counsel according to the scriptures with regards to marriage. I will talk more about this later.
I handled speaking to Titus 2 woman who could speak into their lives on these topics. I would speak at the beginning of the retreat to set the vision we are aiming to accomplish. More on this later too! This is a mine field if not handled well. I will impart what I have learned in acquiring speakers.
We also had a banquet and a craft that tied into the theme for each retreat. Something for them to remember what they had learned.
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My pray is that a blog like this will cause you to think through hosting your own retreat and reaching the hearts of daughters in your area. This generations daughters are the ones that will step out into the harvest for Jesus. We want them equip to become effective Titus 2 woman.
Blessings,
Kimberlee Lucas
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