Sweet Sixteen

This weekend my oldest of 4 children turned 16. It was a fairly significant day in her still young life, as I am sure it was a fairly big day for most of you. That is if you can remember that long ago. (that is for you Lance) For most of us 16 meant that we could finally drive the car without our white knuckled mother sitting in the passenger seat screaming at us to slow down for the corners. It may have meant that we were finally allowed to date...with our parent actually knowing about it. (Although this is not the case for my daughter as she will have to be at least 25 until I will agree to dating.) And of course it meant that we would only have to endure living at home for 2 more years until we could move away from the parental units. (this too will be much later for my daughter)
Ok, as I sit here and think about it, I really think that her turning 16 is way more significant for me, her "very young" mother, than it is for her. It is a trip down memory lane as I turn the pages in her baby book and remember the many milestones both she and I passed together. It is a very firm reminder that the major part of my contribution to her young life is coming to an end as in 2 years (or much longer) she will be expected to venture out on her own. Have I taught her all that she will need to make good decisions and survive a life seperate from her mommy? But most of all I am brought face to face with my shortcoming as her mother. Not the sort of shortcomings that involve guilt. (I am sure that is something that all of you mothers out there can identify with.) I am talking about the sort of shortcoming that reminds me that I am only human and without the grace of God and his loving direction I am a complete failure as her mother. It is in this partnership with God that I need to remain so that my beautiful daughter will continue to develop and in turn hopefully strive to be woman He intends her to be. And so my prayer is that I will continue to let Him work through me and be the best mother to my 16 years daughter that he had planned for me to be.