It's three weeks until my dd's due date now. When I talked with her last evening she'd just gotten home from the doctor's office. I never knew a doctor that had evening hours, but her appointment was at 7:00 PM and she didn't get through until 8:00 PM.

We talked about preparing for the baby. My dd's never been one to plan ahead much. She doesn't have a suitcase packed, nor anything packed for the baby. She really doesn't plan to. "They have everything I'll need at the hospital, " she said.

"What about a robe?" I asked.

"I don't have a robe."

"I guess you can use an extra hospital gown. But what about the baby? Do you have something packed for it?"

"No. Not yet."

"It doesn't hurt to plan ahead, you know. Do you have a car seat?"

"Not yet. Grandma on the other side (of her fiance's Dad) is buying one, but she hasn't delivered it yet.She lives in (a distant city)."

"They won't let you take the baby home without a car seat, you know."

"Yes, I know. I'll be in the hospital for a couple of days though, so that will give them (Grandma) time to get it to me."

I was totally the opposite when I had my babies. I can't believe this girl is related to me at all! Ha. I had the suitcase packed, the baby clothes picked out, a car seat (lining ordered and replaced months before baby was due), bassinet ready, baby clothes washed and folded neatly in a drawer, camera and Bible ready, popsicles and such for labor in the freezer with small ice chest clean and ready to go, etc. etc. Even for the fifth child! I guess I just have to face the fact that my children take after their dad. "Don't do anything today that you can put off till the last minute" is his motto.

On a more serious side, I want to sypathize with the anonymous commenter on my last blog about her wayward daughter. I understand the pain you are going through. You're right that the real problem is a spiritual problem. It is her relationship to the Lord that is most important. What has helped me is to know that God isn't in a hurry to "fix" things. Sometimes it takes time for Him to work in a person's life. We'd like to see immediate results, but that isn't always the case. Keep looking unto Him--focus your eyes on the Savior who IS able to change lives.

Don't let yourself become bitter. My husband won't call or initiate any contact with our daughter. He doesn't even think I should, though he hasn't forbidden me to contact her. He says that the Prodigal son came back to the Father. The Father didn't go to the son when he was wallowing with the pigs.

I won't argue with my husband because he is very difficult to convince of anything. It only causes hard feelings in our relationship. I know God can change his mind, if it needs to be changed. However,  I believe that God is always seeking after those who have gone astray, like the shepherd with the 99 sheep in the fold. So I keep in touch with my dd. I believe that keeping the lines of communication open, telling her that I love her and want the best for her and encouraging her when I can--not condoning her behavior--is what the Lord wants me to do right now.

Talking to your daughter is hard because it reminds you of everything that she's doing that is going against all you taught her. But you can also look at it from another viewpoint. Every time you talk to your daughter, you are reminding her of the values, beliefs and training you gave her (even if you don't mention it). Because "who you are" is a reminder to her of what she has left behind. It is a reminder that she doesn't have to live the life she's living right now. Just that reminder can be God's gentle prodding in her life to turn her around. You still have some input into her life--don't give it up.  

"Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" --Jude 24