Dear Tabitha,

I’m happy to see you growing into a godly young lady. You’ve overcome long odds having been raised in such a troublesome home.

Most children follow in the footsteps of their parents, whether they plan to or not. The kings of Israel epitomize this. Yet, here you are, growing like a weed spiritually and drinking God’s Word from a firehose—two peas in a pod—and here I am mixing three metaphors in one sentence and confusing you altogether.

You asked me recently about how to interact with your absent mother. While you’ve never known your father, your mom has always been “there” (kind of), which makes her absence all the more painful. Apparently, she never cared much for investing in you as a girl but instead focused only on herself. Now that you’re out of the house with a university degree and marriage prospects, all of a sudden she wants back into your life. Continue reading →