Charisse Tierney considers her need to trust God rather than fear what could happen to her children as they grow toward adulthood.
I walked into the Adoration chapel the other day and saw two women speaking to each other quietly. Their mannerisms conveyed a friendship built on a deep bond, and their faces expressed an authentic joy in what they were discussing.
After the older woman left with her three granddaughters, the younger woman approached me and said she wanted to tell me a story. The woman speaking to me told me that, many years ago, before she was married, she had an unwed pregnancy. The woman I had just seen her speaking with had taken her in to live with her during this time and supported her during the final months of pregnancy.
The woman telling me the story glowed as she told me the name of the daughter she gave birth to, how old the daughter is now, and the generous kindness of the woman who took her in when she felt alone and rejected.
It only took a few minutes to tell the story, but I could see a lifetime of faith, trust, and joy that were the fruits of the relationship between these two women.
An unwed pregnancy. One of many things on a long list of situations I hope my children never experience.
And yet, in hearing this woman’s story so many years later, I was reminded that I have nothing to fear when we have a God who can transform anything into a good.
A story that was most likely distressing or even tragic at its beginning had become a testament to the beauty of choosing mercy and life.
After hearing that story, I felt inspired by how good and strong and courageous people can be.
So while there are still many circumstances I would never wish upon my children, I don’t want to live in constant fear of them either.
We teach our children the best we can, we tell them what is true and good and beautiful, and then we let them go, little by little.
And we trust.
We trust that not only did we do what we could, but we trust that God will do more than we could ever imagine—with anything life throws their way.
I want my children’s stories to inspire others. I don’t need to fear what their stories will be, because God is in charge of writing them. And He can make all things good.
Copyright 2023 Charisse Tierney
Images: Canva
About the Author
Charisse Tierney
Charisse Tierney lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Rob and seven children. Charisse is a stay-at-home mom, musician, NFP teacher, and a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechist. She is also a contributing author to The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion and Family Foundations magazine. Charisse blogs at Paving the Path to Purity and can be found on Facebook.
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