It's Not Always Easy

By Genevieve Bute-Leacock

Entering mother-hood was scary especially because I was a teenage mum, but I had to suck it up and do this. I welcomed my daughter at 15 years old. I had to pause my teenage life to become the mother I needed to be .

It wasn't easy but I did my best. My daughter is now 27 years old with a daughter of her own and I am now the proud mother of 4 children and 2 beautiful granddaughters . Becoming a mother, although I was far from ready, is a job I enjoy and even though many days I wished parenting came with a manual, it teaches you to become the best version of yourself for those that God has entrusted to your care.

I cried, I laughed, I loved, and I also became angry, but I would never trade my, "brady bunch." Yes, I think I might have missed out on some important years but I also believe that as my children grew, I too grew up with them, so anything I thought to have missed, I saw through them. Parenting has many challenges. Dealing with personalities, moods, still trying to maintain your sanity most days is a struggle, but I owe it all to God. His grace and mercy has kept me. It wasn't always happy times. I often think that I have let my children down with some poor choices I have made but I am here today thanking God for keeping me. My children are grown up now and I am at the stage in my life where I want God to use me for His honor and glory and to become a better wife, mother and grandmother. Through it all, I have learned to trust in God believing that with Him all things are possible.

A Resilient Mother and Woman of God

By Brenda Sawyer

Although my mother transitioned forty-six years ago and her memory has left and will always leave an indelible legacy and impression on my life. She is the one who taught and instilled the values and morals that I needed to be the woman and mother I am today. I remember my mother always taught me at an early age to pray, trust and believe God for everything. Now as a mother of a beautiful daughter, the Scripture I still hold onto is, Proverbs 22:6 which instructs parents to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Despite the life changes and challenges of a divorce, I still managed to keep my faith and raise my beautiful daughter, Natia.

Watching her grow up has been such a joy to my life. I often ask myself the question, "Where did the time go?" It seems like yesterday she was just a toddler and now she is all grown up to be an amazing woman of God, who I am so very proud of. I know without God, I could not have raised my daughter and accomplished anything in my life. It is in Him I live, move and have my being and can do all things through Him because He strengthens me. Today, I am a retired educator, inspirational speaker, international best-selling author and mentoring strategist.

My resilience comes from never letting my circumstances take control over me, but taking control over them and walking fearlessly and unapologetically into my God-given destiny. I want my life to exemplify Christ to everyone I meet and to be the change in the world that I want to see. This can only happen when I continue to pray and read God’s Word to keep me rooted and grounded in the center of His divine will.