Last night I had the privilege of gathering with 15 other ladies, most of whom I'd never met, to pray for my friend's 13 year old daughter who is entering into womanhood.
Her mom got this idea while listening to someone on the radio talking about gathering a group of men together to pray for his son as he entered into manhood. The father chose several of his closest friends to gift his son with a letter of wisdom and then prayer.
Last night we each gave my friend's daughter a letter we'd handwritten with a small piece of advice or spiritual wisdom in it and a small gift to help her remember the occasion. Some offered advice on relationships, some on purity, others wrote of loving God and ourselves, still others spoke of fun, friendships, forgiveness and the mistakes we made in our teenage years.
We each read our letter aloud to her and told about our gift and why we'd chosen it. Then we prayed for her as a group.
This was the most wonderful introduction into womanhood. It was a Bar Mitzvah of sorts. And I was amazed at how God brought each woman there for a specific reason. We each had something different to share. We each had a story to tell.
The night meant as much if not more to her mother than it did to her I'm sure. It will be in the years to come as her relationship with God becomes her own that He will bring back memories of last night.
Since I forgot both my letter and my gift I plan on giving her a pretty box to keep all her gifts and letters in. I can imagine her pulling it out of a closet or an attic 20 years from now and remembering how much her mom loved her because she cared enough to introduce her to womanhood in this way…..with others who had walked the road before her, with prayer and with love.
Some of the women there had prayed for my friend's daughter since she was in her mother’s womb. How awesome to see this 13 year old blossoming young woman and to again be able to pray God's blessing over her life.
Thanks for praying for Candace tomorrow. I’ve sent word to her family and will post it on the prayer calendar as well to them know. Could you please let me know how many people are praying for Candace (as it asks on the prayer calendar), unless you’d like to sign in yourself there, let me know so I don’t double it up.
I will also be doing this for Emily who is scheduled for her first surgery on Tuesday. May the Lord heal these precious girls and give strength to their parents during this dificult time!
Also, I just stopped by Candace’s site and her mom posted an urgent prayer request. Just wanted you to know.
Thanks for lifting Candace up in prayer,
Amy
Thanks so much for sharing this! I love this idea. It brought tears to my eyes. I remeber once when we visited a Native American Museum in CA hearing of a blessing ceremony that girls go through in that culture. I thought it was lovely idea, just never thought of translating it to our Christian Daughters. Thanks
What a neat idea! A few years back a friend mentioned that she had given her daughter an “entry into womanhood” gathering with her DD’s friends. But, I love the idea of moms….I remember being so scared, feeling awkward, etc, at that time of my life. This warm and loving gathering would help with those types of feelings. Thanks for sharing this…
I loved your post about floral vs. leather couch purchasing on kindredspirit’s blog..DH and I are in the market for a new couch. We went looking last night…I think I’m going to need to use your strategy!!
Wow Julie …. what a wonderful way to come together to celebrate, pray and have fun talking with each other for this very special young lady!!! : ) It sounds like everyone really was blessed by it. What an awesome God we have!!!! : )
I remember when I was about 13 that my parents gave me my purity ring and we had so many prayers & neat talks about what the Bible says and real life applications, etc. And I finally took off and replaced that purity ring with the wedding ring my hubby put on my finger the day of our wedding. What a great gift that was!!! : )