The Time Has Come

I knew it would happen eventually....The day would come when my daughter would express her differing taste in music.

Generally speaking, I listen to the local Christian radio station - or perhaps to my ipod. The ipod further limits the selection to those songs which I have interpreted on a Sunday morning, and a few that have just spoken to me.

My daughter has found a liking to Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and several other pop/country artist. Generally, we listen to her music when we're in the car. It gives me easy access to the volume knob. Not only does it keep the music from blaring, but it also gives me the opportunity to turn it off if we run into a song that I don't want to explain to a not quite eight year old. (I'm SO not ready for that yet...)

I don't believe in totally isolating my children from the world around them. They need to be able to negotiate their way through it. I know that this is just the beginning of a series of opportunities to discuss "the world" with my daughter.

On one hand, it's exciting - on the other, terrifying. I am primarily responsible for walking her through the next several years, gently weaning her from her dependence on me. She will grow and make decisions of her own more and more frequently. I can't stand back and hope it turns out ok. I must stand with her, beside her, in front of her, behind her; be her teacher, her mentor, her advocate, her mother.

May I use these years efficiently and appropriately. Equip me and guide me, and give to her a discerning spirit that continues to long to seek You.