Growing up as the child of an alcoholic father who abused my mother and neglected us kids, taught me how to be a really strong protector, a really good nurturer, and a provider. I was well prepared to be a parent long before that event ever occurred.
There are two sides to every coin though. My childhood gave me the above strengths, but I discovered that most often my strengths actually hinder what God wants to do in the lives of the people I love.
The downside of my strength is: I had a hard time relating to a loving heavenly Father for all of my needs, and the nurturing aspect to my personality can lean in a mild degree towards a “savior type” compulsion. I was often guilty of trying to ‘fix’ the circumstances in my children’s lives so that they wouldn’t suffer.
Have you ever stopped in the middle of helping your kids or a friend out of a jam, and thought, “maybe it would be better if they took their lumps and let God teach them something from their situation?”
It wasn’t easy but I had to come to the point of surrendering my kids totally to God, meaning I had to assume a “Hands Off” attitude. I’ve learned that it’s safer to pray that God make the choices for the people I love, even if that means discipline, even if that means hardship.
That might mean not being there for a hand-out when one of my adult kids needs money.
That might mean keeping my mouth closed when it comes to advice and just listening and praying for them instead.
That might mean standing back as they hurt in hospital after a suicide attempt, and telling them to trust God and no one else, and crying buckets of tears with them.
Surrender your loved ones to God, and stop trying to save them yourself.
Sofi’s Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
This is the theme of Sofi’s Bridge, my latest historical romance, releasing this April 16 for digital, and May 1 for paperback at can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Books.com and Pelican Book Group.
To read the first chapter of Sofi’s Bridge, click HERE.
ABOUT CHRISTINE LINDSAY
Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.
Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming. Her newest release Sofi’s Bridge also features a dashing Irish hero.
Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.
Can I have a drumroll please? Because the winner of Dreams and Visions: (Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World) by Tom Doyle and Your Heart’s Desire: 14 Truths that will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd is…. Cindy Schlinker Loven!!! I know Cindy from Facebook, and also because…
May 2023 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s/Picture Books: Super Doople by K.A. Cummins — You’ve heard the legend of Humpty Dumpty, but do you know the legend of Super Doople? He’s faster than a chicken. He flies higher than an ostrich. No…
Sorry it’s been quiet here, there’s quite a bit going on behind the scenes, and I’ll share more in the coming days. It’s a busy time, but an exciting one! A big part of being an author is also being in marketing. That’s not natural for most authors, we just want to write, and…
I was new to town, new to the state. My dad had recently passed away, our daughter nearly passed away but was chronically ill. My husband had a new job, our son, a new school. I sat in the Sunday School class and fought the tears. Everyone knew each other. You could tell there were…
The Honor Key Book Description: Russell Evans writes, “our relationship with God was restored with honor, and honor is the system God has built for blessing our relationships with Him and others.” Honor affects every part of your life—your family, your job, your finances, and your church life. In fact, it affects everything. God has…
Julie’s note: Due to my time away from the computer last week, I’m posting two COTT blog alliance articles. Here is the first. *guest post by Michelle Massaro (Ms. Davy) was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made…
Can I have a drumroll please? Because the winner of Dreams and Visions: (Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World) by Tom Doyle and Your Heart’s Desire: 14 Truths that will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd is…. Cindy Schlinker Loven!!! I know Cindy from Facebook, and also because…
May 2023 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s/Picture Books: Super Doople by K.A. Cummins — You’ve heard the legend of Humpty Dumpty, but do you know the legend of Super Doople? He’s faster than a chicken. He flies higher than an ostrich. No…
Sorry it’s been quiet here, there’s quite a bit going on behind the scenes, and I’ll share more in the coming days. It’s a busy time, but an exciting one! A big part of being an author is also being in marketing. That’s not natural for most authors, we just want to write, and…
I was new to town, new to the state. My dad had recently passed away, our daughter nearly passed away but was chronically ill. My husband had a new job, our son, a new school. I sat in the Sunday School class and fought the tears. Everyone knew each other. You could tell there were…
The Honor Key Book Description: Russell Evans writes, “our relationship with God was restored with honor, and honor is the system God has built for blessing our relationships with Him and others.” Honor affects every part of your life—your family, your job, your finances, and your church life. In fact, it affects everything. God has…
Julie’s note: Due to my time away from the computer last week, I’m posting two COTT blog alliance articles. Here is the first. *guest post by Michelle Massaro (Ms. Davy) was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made…
Can I have a drumroll please? Because the winner of Dreams and Visions: (Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World) by Tom Doyle and Your Heart’s Desire: 14 Truths that will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd is…. Cindy Schlinker Loven!!! I know Cindy from Facebook, and also because…
May 2023 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s/Picture Books: Super Doople by K.A. Cummins — You’ve heard the legend of Humpty Dumpty, but do you know the legend of Super Doople? He’s faster than a chicken. He flies higher than an ostrich. No…
Sorry it’s been quiet here, there’s quite a bit going on behind the scenes, and I’ll share more in the coming days. It’s a busy time, but an exciting one! A big part of being an author is also being in marketing. That’s not natural for most authors, we just want to write, and…
I was new to town, new to the state. My dad had recently passed away, our daughter nearly passed away but was chronically ill. My husband had a new job, our son, a new school. I sat in the Sunday School class and fought the tears. Everyone knew each other. You could tell there were…
The Honor Key Book Description: Russell Evans writes, “our relationship with God was restored with honor, and honor is the system God has built for blessing our relationships with Him and others.” Honor affects every part of your life—your family, your job, your finances, and your church life. In fact, it affects everything. God has…
Julie’s note: Due to my time away from the computer last week, I’m posting two COTT blog alliance articles. Here is the first. *guest post by Michelle Massaro (Ms. Davy) was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made…
Thank you for sharing this, Christine. It’s not easy to step back and allow God to work in our kids’ lives, but I’m learning (finally!) that it’s best for all concerned.
Thank you, Julie, for featuring Christine and her story.
Blessings to you both.
Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.
Thank you for sharing this, Christine. It’s not easy to step back and allow God to work in our kids’ lives, but I’m learning (finally!) that it’s best for all concerned.
Thank you, Julie, for featuring Christine and her story.
Blessings to you both.