Mother’s Week 2021: Day 2

By Amy Kwan-Garcia

My life lessons as a mom are more like The Old Man and the Sea and less like The Perfect Storm. What do I mean by that? You just gotta hang on baby and don't give up. I believe for most of us we have dramatic moments, days or months but usually they are short lived. I remember bringing my daughter home that first day I was all alone. I had to keep moving or she would start crying. I think I did this for 10-12 hours. We made it until help arrived. Then when she was four years old the night terrors started; I just held her till she was done screaming. Sometimes it was 10, 15 minutes and sometimes it was an hour but we lived through that too. My daughter now is 29 and something very dramatic and traumatic happened last summer and I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Obviously I did since I'm here writing about it. The Lord had prepared me in the spring of 2018 when I was in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago for seven days. I prayed and listened everyday for what He wants me to know and do for the second half of my life. My prayers included my husband and daughter of course and if He can just get them to do the things that I want them to do that would be wonderful. God is good. He didn't say no He just said I got them. You have to trust me and have faith in me. The Lord knew that I needed time to process and learn how to give up control and trust him before the events of last summer. I am definitely not saying it's been smooth sailing but rather a very stormy season. The circumstance has not changed, but my attitude and gratitude has knowing that the Lord has me, my husband and our daughter in His hands. I am trusting Him no matter the outcome.

Amy Kwan-Garcia (center) with her family.

Psalm 16:8-11

I keep the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices: my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.