Dear Daughter, Don't Let the World Break You

So God Made a Mother is Here! 🎉

Baby girl, you are so incredibly beautiful. So delicate. So beautifully breakable. And because of that, I am afraid for you.

The world broke me. Like so many beautiful things in this world, I was delicate. And like so many things in this world, I broke. But I didn’t break on my own. I was broken. The world broke me.

The world broke me the first time I heard the lies and believed them. The world spoke through the mouth of a girl, probably broken herself, and I listened.

The world broke me when it whispered I was too big.

I was too big to be beautiful. It told me I needed to be smaller. I needed to be thinner. If I could just lose a few pounds, I would be beautiful.

The world broke me when it whispered I was too quiet. I was too quiet to be noticed. The world told me I needed to be more confident, more outgoing. If I could just be louder, I would be noticed.

The world broke me when it whispered I was too weak. I was too delicate to be loved. The world told me I needed to be stronger, less likely to break. If I could be stronger, I would be shatterproof. But I was already broken by then, and I thought it was too late to be fixed.

Baby girl, I hope the world doesn’t break you the way it broke me.

You are so incredibly beautiful and so beautifully fragile, and I am afraid for you. I can’t hide you from the lies forever. I can’t protect you from the whispers. All I can do is hope and pray and raise you to see the truth.

You are beautiful. Always. Your beautiful soul fills your body and overflows into the world. You are perfect just the way you are. You are not too anything. Not too big. Not too small. Not too quiet. Not too loud. Not too strong. Not too weak. You are just right. You are perfect in the eyes of everyone who matters. Please remember that.

I promise to always affirm both your inner and outer beauty, whether you’re all dolled up for your first date or just waking up with wild hair and pajamas on. You are beautiful.

I promise to always affirm the beauty of others . . . including myself.

If I show you that all women are beautiful, maybe you will be more likely to believe it yourself. We are all beautiful.

I promise to do what I can to protect you from a world that enjoys breaking pretty things. I promise to teach you about the value and beauty of your body, a value that demands your body to always be treated with love and respect. Your body is beautiful.

But baby girl, if you find yourself broken one day, know this—all broken souls can be fixed. All wounds can heal. But you can’t fix your brokenness by yourself. And I can’t fix your brokenness for you. But I know where to lead you. I hope I can protect your precious, fragile, beautiful soul, but if it breaks, I know where you can be healed. I know the person who can put the pieces of your broken soul back together.

God can create beauty using our brokenness like He did with me. I hope the world doesn’t break you, but if it does, I hope you know you can come to me, and I’ll lead you to the place where you can find healing.

You are beautiful in your fragile wholeness, you will be beautiful in your brokenness, and you will be beautiful when you’ve been put back together.

You will always be beautiful. You will always be perfect. You are just right as you are, no matter what. But your mama has her dreams, and no mother wants to see her daughter hurt, so I hope the world doesn’t break you, baby girl.

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Her View Shop

daughter dear daughter Faith girl mom mom of daughters Motherhood raising a daughter self confidence

Shannon Whitmore

Shannon Whitmore currently lives in northwestern Virginia with her husband, Andrew, and their two children, John and Felicity. When she is not caring for her children, Shannon enjoys writing for her blog, Love in the Little Things, reading fiction, and freelance writing on topics such as marriage, family life, faith, and health. She has experience serving in the areas of youth ministry, religious education, sacramental preparation, and marriage enrichment.

Dear Kindergarten Graduate, My Hand Will Always Be Yours to Hold

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

Tomorrow you’ll graduate kindergarten. You chose the perfect shirt for the occasion. It’s a blue and white button-up. “Get one with big checkers, Mom, not little ones,” was your request. I know it’ll make your eyes pop from under your too-big red graduation hat. It’s going to be adorable. You’re going to be adorable. You’ve been counting down the days. You’re ready and, truthfully, I am too—even though I’m so often in denial about how quickly this time with you is passing. Didn’t you just start crawling? How is it possible you’ll already be in first grade next year? RELATED:...

Keep Reading

You Were Made to Be My Oldest

In: Child

You are my firstborn. My big. The one who made me a mama. The one who started this whole crazy, beautiful roller coaster ride the day I found out you were on your way. I remember tip-toeing to the bathroom before the sun rose and taking a pregnancy test. The flutter of excitement in my heart turned into a flutter in my growing tummy within just a few short months. And now here you are, seven years old and more incredible than I imagined in all my wildest dreams. You amaze me every single day with your humor, kindness, and...

Keep Reading

I’m a Kindergarten Mom at the Bottom of the Hill

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

Boy holding hands with his mother, color photo

The local elementary school is perched atop an obnoxious hill. It is customary for kindergarten parents to walk their children to the top of the hill as the rest of the grades, first through fifth, having earned their badge of capability and courage, walk alone. Car line is off-limits for kindergartners, which means it’s a walk in whatever weather, whenever school is in session type of vibe. My oldest misses car line. I miss it as well. It’s so simple, convenient, and most importantly, warm and waterproof. But my youngest is a kindergartner, so for the last several months we’ve...

Keep Reading

When He’s 10

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

My son is at an age where he couldn’t care less about personal grooming, his un-selfconsciousness both admirable and aggravating to me. “Let’s clip your fingernails,” I say. No. “Clean your ears.” No. “Cut your hair.” No, Mom, come on, I like it long. But a month or so before his birthday, if he was going to remain a boy and not a lion, he needed a haircut. So, we made some kind of deal, probably a bribe, and finally. Fine. “It’ll be long again before you know it,” I told him, as we walked together into the salon, “you know how...

Keep Reading

He’s Slowly Walking Away with Footprints As Big As Mine

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood, Tween

The true measure of a mother’s love is her willingness to wake up before the sun on vacation. On a recent trip to the shore, my youngest son begged to walk the beach at dawn to look for shells. So, I set my alarm, tumbled out of a warm, king-sized bed with extra squishy pillows, glared at my dead-to-the-world husband, and gently woke my 11-year-old. Without so much as a drop of coffee, we headed out into the morning, the sun still below the ocean horizon. With each step, I shed my zombie-like state and took in the quiet, salt-kissed...

Keep Reading

Are You Watching?

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

Little girl playing goalie at soccer practice, color photo

I brought a book to my 7-year-old daughter’s soccer practice. To be honest, I was looking forward to one hour of time when I didn’t have to do anything but sit. No one would be asking me questions, and no one would need anything from me. I wasn’t in charge. So, I set up my lawn chair, got cozy, and opened the book. But then I happened to glance up as it was her turn to run a drill. The coach was passing each kid the ball for them to kick into the goal. She stepped forward, kicked, and made...

Keep Reading

Dear Sully

In: Child, Motherhood

Little boy smiling holding parents' hands

Dear Sully, Thank you for changing our lives! Many times when someone thinks about autism they think of it negatively. But I want to talk about autism in a positive light. I want to talk about what our son’s autism has taught us. We wanted to write this letter to you, my beautiful boy, letting you know just how much you have changed our lives and the things you have taught us. You have made us more compassionate toward others. You have shown us the ability to not judge others because you never know what struggles they are facing. You...

Keep Reading

She’s Stepping Into Her Own Self and I’m Learning To Let Her

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

I was recently asked, “What age do you think your daughter will want to decorate her own room?” I was stumped by the question. I never considered that my 7-year-old daughter would one day replace the unicorn head hanging from her wall or the pink color scheme weaved throughout her furniture pieces. Of course, I knew her room wouldn’t stay that way forever. Still, I had never considered the magnitude of emotions I may experience when that day comes. The first years of parenting a little girl are filled with externally swayed ideas of how they should dress and...

Keep Reading

You Fill Our Family With Laughter

In: Child, Motherhood

Laughing little girl, black and white photo

Little girl, Sometimes, you have a hard time finding your place. You joined our family at seven. You were so sweet but so unsure. There are ways you’re growing . . . changing . . . grieving . . . struggling. and we don’t always know how to help. However, we listen, we talk, and we reach out to people who know more than we do. Despite all you are going through, there is a strength that always rises to the top. You are funny. And you find the comedy in everything around you. RELATED: I Love the Laughter That...

Keep Reading

You Gave Him So Much More than a Haircut

In: Child, Motherhood

“Thank you for cutting his hair,” I’ve told Emily many times in passing, or lightheartedly over text. I wish I could show her what it actually means in my heart. “I’ll go in by myself,” he says. Instantly, my mind flashes from the achingly handsome 10-year-old standing in front of me to the toddler he once was. I see his 2-year-old self standing before me in our mudroom. Fresh from Kids Cuts, a soggy sticker on his T-shirt that reads “I GOT MY HAIRCUT.” A red and blotchy face from crying, eyes swollen. The buzz cut was the quickest way...

Keep Reading

Even When You Don’t Feel God, He's There

Faith

Even When You Don’t Feel God, He's There

Dear Son, I Pray My Love Shines Through the Messy Parts of Me

Kids

Dear Daughter, Don’t Let the World Break You

The world broke me when it whispered I was too big.

Baby girl, I hope the world doesn’t break you the way it broke me.

I promise to always affirm the beauty of others . . . including myself.

You are beautiful in your fragile wholeness, you will be beautiful in your brokenness, and you will be beautiful when you’ve been put back together.

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Her View Shop

Shannon Whitmore

Dear Kindergarten Graduate, My Hand Will Always Be Yours to Hold

You Were Made to Be My Oldest

I’m a Kindergarten Mom at the Bottom of the Hill

When He’s 10

He’s Slowly Walking Away with Footprints As Big As Mine

Are You Watching?

Dear Sully

She’s Stepping Into Her Own Self and I’m Learning To Let Her

You Fill Our Family With Laughter

You Gave Him So Much More than a Haircut

free email bonus

5 Ways to Connect with Your Kids

A National Bestseller!

Order So God Made a Mother

Dear Daughter, Don’t Let the World Break You

The world broke me when it whispered I was too big.

Baby girl, I hope the world doesn’t break you the way it broke me.

I promise to always affirm the beauty of others . . . including myself.

You are beautiful in your fragile wholeness, you will be beautiful in your brokenness, and you will be beautiful when you’ve been put back together.

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Her View Shop

Dear Kindergarten Graduate, My Hand Will Always Be Yours to Hold

You Were Made to Be My Oldest

I’m a Kindergarten Mom at the Bottom of the Hill

When He’s 10

He’s Slowly Walking Away with Footprints As Big As Mine

Are You Watching?

Dear Sully

She’s Stepping Into Her Own Self and I’m Learning To Let Her

You Fill Our Family With Laughter

You Gave Him So Much More than a Haircut

Previous Post

Next Post

You May Also Like

5 Ways to Connect with Your Kids