(Holly Wagner/ Colour London 2016)
Growing up in the church has been an amazing experience and I can honestly say that I have learned a lot..from things TO DO and thing NOT TO DO. There have been moments when I have questioned my faith and moments when I have been more in love with Jesus than ever before. While growing up in the church and being the daughter of the pastor, people would always ask me..
"Are you going to grow up and follow in your mom's footsteps?"
My mom is awesome. She is the founder of an organization called She Rises (GodChicks), that helps women understand their worth and value. My mother has helped millions of women around the world realize just how precious they are. So following in her footsteps would be an honor. As a child when asked the question if I would be like my mom I would either say something like...
"Yes!" or "I guess we will see!"
I mean, what was I supposed to say? For me that was always a weird question. I didn't know, as a child, the plans that God had for me, heck, I still don't know everything He has planned for me, I just knew that it would be GOOD!
Now, as I am 24 years old, I have learned something very valuable. I now have the answer to that question. If someone were to ask me now..."Are you going to follow in your mother's footsteps?" My answer would be this...
No. My mom is an amazing human being, someone that I look up to and want to model my life after. But God did not create me to follow in HER footsteps, but instead, create footsteps of my own. I will follow my mother's example in how she listens to God's voice and loves people, then I will take that and go walk my own path that God has created for me.
We have all been born with a specific destiny and purpose that is not like anyone else's on the planet! How amazing is that! We were designed by the Creator of the Universe for a unique purpose of our own that only we can do. So it is our job, to not follow in the footsteps of someone else. Instead, learn from great wisdom and leave our own mark on the planet. It is our job to listen to God's voice and go the path that He has directed for us individually.
I have followed my mother's example and I have built an organization of my own called City of Lights International. We do a lot of work in Uganda and our goal is to work all over Africa and all over the world taking care of vulnerable children, their families and communities. I would not have been able to do that without following the passionate example that my mom lives. So I learned from her, but did not copy her. She is living her purpose beautifully, I don't need to do what SHE is doing, I need to do what God has called ME to do.
My prayer for my future children is that they follow God with all their heart and they listen to His voice. I pray that they love God and love people and that they fight against injustice. I want to be an example for my children. I want to live a life that my kids can learn from and get wisdom from, not necessarily follow in my footsteps. My dream for my children is that they will create footsteps of their own. My prayer is that I will be the kind of mother that cheers them on in the purpose and destiny that God has created for THEM, the one of a kind, unique purpose that only THEY can fulfill.
That's what my mother did for me... And I only hope that I can do that for my children one day. If I can be half the mother she is for me, to my children... they will be in great shape :)
Also, I am off to Uganda tonight! To stay in the loop of all that is happening there, check out my other blog www.pariswagner.blogspot.com "Blue Eyes and Red Dirt". It's going to be a trip you don't wanna miss!
xo
