As I perch here, earbuds jammed in, soaking up podcasts like a sponge and diving into my Bible while gearing up for my Daily Devotional, I’m basically on an epic journey of self-discovery. You see, I morphed into the Mother I wish I had as a kid! Yep, growing up in a tiny family as the firstborn and the youngest meant I got all the spotlight! But spoiler alert: I was the MIDDLE child, the one everyone believes is so tough she can just raise herself. Little did they know, my inner drama queen was auditioning for an Oscar the whole time!

Being the kid who somehow mastered the art of invisibility for my parents, and the one who could never quite hit the happiness jackpot, I grew up to be that hilariously overprotective parent who suffocates with love. I mean, my kids didn’t need a bodyguard, but hey, at least we provided a stable fortress for them—freedom and all! I was committed to letting them become the amazing quirky little beings God intended, rather than the overachieving mini-mes or what the world thought was trendy. After all, self-expression in childhood is like finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag—priceless!

Now that I’ve delved into yet another layer of ME, I’ve come to a profound realization: it has always been me all along. You see, I grapple with co-dependency, a challenge I once believed I had conquered long ago. How mistaken I was! Co-dependency doesn’t just rear its head in romantic relationships, oh no—it extends to my precious children as well. I find myself questioning whether this struggle has been woven into my fabric from the very beginning or if it was triggered by the devastating loss of my husband. I suspect the answer is a resounding YES to both. When you live with co-dependency like I do, you can never predict where it will emerge in your life. Thus, one must remain ever vigilant and aware.

It’s like there’s a sleepy tiger in your belly, just waiting for snack time to strike! We really need to give a little love to our bodies, minds, and souls, people! When you finally tune into your body—like a musician trying to find the right note—through scripture, human design, meditation, books, yoga, and an adventurous journey into the land of herbs, you’ll discover the shocking truth: you’re a bit of a masterpiece! Here’s the plot twist, folks… nobody on this planet can love you quite like YOU can! So go ahead, be your own biggest fan!

So, as you embark on your journey of soul searching and healing, remember that it’s essential to forgive YOURSELF, to express gratitude towards YOURSELF, and to extend grace and love to YOURSELF! The path of healing from past wounds may bring pain, but through it all, know that God walks alongside you, and Jesus is there to help you navigate your questions; it truly feels like having a loving FATHER and supportive BROTHER guiding you through the teachings of the BIBLE.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:7