If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her football starts next week, not in nine years.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her a pitching machine lasts one game, not multiple seasons.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her the dirty and clean laundry will pile up, and the dishes will too. I’d tell her to not let that affect her so much.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her life is too short to worry about tomorrow.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to capture every moment of time her son spent with her grannie.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to never stop journaling. Her kids (for their own strength) would need to read about all they unknowingly (good and bad) went through one day.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her this is the easiest time of her life, but the hardest, and yet the best times are coming.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her that her husband is going to show up, in every time of need, in every midnight cry, and for every ballgame too—don’t be so hard on him.

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If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her God is getting ready to make her a warrior.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her the times will be busy, but they’ll also be too short.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her one is great, two is better, and three is the best.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to get out of her comfort zone and make those new friends even sooner.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to get in the habit of writing out her prayers.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her she would be shooing chickens out of her garden, selling her abundance of eggs, and canning all of her vegetables, and then I would smile as she laughed at me.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her that her feelings are going to get hurt. Words will hurt, but even more important than forgiving is forgetting those words.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her life is just beginning.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her she’ll make mistakes. But that’s okay, she’s not Jesus. Thank goodness she knows the One who is.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to learn what the armor of God is and repeat the scripture every day as she imagines herself putting it on.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to love deeply. Deeper than the deepest deep she could think of.

If I could tell that mom, I would tell her the most incredible mentors are on their way.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to start picking up her Bible every day now and not later.

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If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her tears are okay. Sometimes they will be joyful, sometimes they will be full of sorrow, but they will probably be frequent.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her life is hard. That fighting Satan is real. That when he feels threatened, he’ll step up his game, but to step up hers even harder, and remind him that on the back of his neck is a nail-scarred footprint, as C.S. Lewis said.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her I love her.

I would praise her. I would tell her the beginning is just starting, and the greatest is around the corner.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her the depth in which she would come to know God, and how the magnitude of such would soften her heart so that He would become more known.

If I could tell that mom, I’d tell her to always just hold on, God is still on the throne.

Originally published on the author’s Facebook page