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.
Julie’s note: Yesterday I featured SAPPHIRE SECRETS by Dawn V. Cahill as this month’s Don’t Miss This feature. Today Dawn shares an interview with the two main characters from her novel. Take it away, Dawn! Two amazing young women are visiting us today. Please help me welcome identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and…
Yesterday I announced that Surrendered Scribe Media is now official. My first business related venture is re branding the Adirondack Surrender Romance series into Surrendering Time. Although readers might be familiar with Entrusted, I changed the cover and tweaked the title to reflect the series. So be on the lookout for ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present….
TELL US ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS STALKING. The Christmas Stalking is a romantic suspense novella that features Destiny-a very famous country music star. She has everything she dreamed of and more. Fame. Wealth. Beauty. Adoring fans. Oh, yeah and a stalker. As the stalker escalates, she decides it’s time for Destiny to disappear and let…
How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s? In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest…
December is knocking and I have really enjoyed sharing my thankful thoughts. As far as the giveaway is concerned, I have met new readers who are all eligible to win. I can’t wait to find out who does. I use a cute app with a wheel that spins, LOL. Anyway, I’ve talked about our kids…
This has been a tough month. If it were only the government shutdown or healthcare issues. But it seems so much more, you know? My inbox has been fuller than usual with requests asking, “would you pray for me?” There have been jobs lost New diagnosis Family issues Relationship troubles and more. It wasn’t that…
Julie’s note: Yesterday I featured SAPPHIRE SECRETS by Dawn V. Cahill as this month’s Don’t Miss This feature. Today Dawn shares an interview with the two main characters from her novel. Take it away, Dawn! Two amazing young women are visiting us today. Please help me welcome identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and…
Yesterday I announced that Surrendered Scribe Media is now official. My first business related venture is re branding the Adirondack Surrender Romance series into Surrendering Time. Although readers might be familiar with Entrusted, I changed the cover and tweaked the title to reflect the series. So be on the lookout for ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present….
TELL US ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS STALKING. The Christmas Stalking is a romantic suspense novella that features Destiny-a very famous country music star. She has everything she dreamed of and more. Fame. Wealth. Beauty. Adoring fans. Oh, yeah and a stalker. As the stalker escalates, she decides it’s time for Destiny to disappear and let…
How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s? In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest…
December is knocking and I have really enjoyed sharing my thankful thoughts. As far as the giveaway is concerned, I have met new readers who are all eligible to win. I can’t wait to find out who does. I use a cute app with a wheel that spins, LOL. Anyway, I’ve talked about our kids…
This has been a tough month. If it were only the government shutdown or healthcare issues. But it seems so much more, you know? My inbox has been fuller than usual with requests asking, “would you pray for me?” There have been jobs lost New diagnosis Family issues Relationship troubles and more. It wasn’t that…
Julie’s note: Yesterday I featured SAPPHIRE SECRETS by Dawn V. Cahill as this month’s Don’t Miss This feature. Today Dawn shares an interview with the two main characters from her novel. Take it away, Dawn! Two amazing young women are visiting us today. Please help me welcome identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and…
Yesterday I announced that Surrendered Scribe Media is now official. My first business related venture is re branding the Adirondack Surrender Romance series into Surrendering Time. Although readers might be familiar with Entrusted, I changed the cover and tweaked the title to reflect the series. So be on the lookout for ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present….
TELL US ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS STALKING. The Christmas Stalking is a romantic suspense novella that features Destiny-a very famous country music star. She has everything she dreamed of and more. Fame. Wealth. Beauty. Adoring fans. Oh, yeah and a stalker. As the stalker escalates, she decides it’s time for Destiny to disappear and let…
How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s? In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest…
December is knocking and I have really enjoyed sharing my thankful thoughts. As far as the giveaway is concerned, I have met new readers who are all eligible to win. I can’t wait to find out who does. I use a cute app with a wheel that spins, LOL. Anyway, I’ve talked about our kids…
This has been a tough month. If it were only the government shutdown or healthcare issues. But it seems so much more, you know? My inbox has been fuller than usual with requests asking, “would you pray for me?” There have been jobs lost New diagnosis Family issues Relationship troubles and more. It wasn’t that…
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.
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.