Comments

HEY, GIRLS! We love hearing from you, but feel limited in the ways we can help. For one thing, we’re not trained counselors. If you’re seeking counsel, we encourage you to talk to your pastor or a godly woman in your life as they’ll know more details and can provide you with ongoing accountability and help. Also, the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts. We reserve the right to remove comments which might be unhelpful, unsuitable, or inappropriate.

Allison
Letter to Dad
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 6:19 am
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Wow! This girl has a GREAT relationship with her dad!!! I don't know if would be able to write a letter like this...Great letter!
Nicole
Thank you!
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:03 am
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This tribute is amazing! Your father is blessed to have you as a daughter.
Thank you so much for sharing! I appreciate everything you wrote.
Rachel
=)
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:42 am
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Hey guys,
Thanks for your comments on this! My dad really is amazing. I am so blessed! ;) He does so much for me. Thanks for letting me share this!! =)
Anna
Wow!!
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 12:42 pm
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Wow Rachel!! This pretty much sums up who my dad is too!! You sure we don't have the same dad?... =)! Based on your letter, it sounds like you have a very loving dad very much like my daddy.
Great job and God Bless!
Kathy
<3
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 12:45 pm
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I love it!!! Thank you so much!
chocolate
Erin (off topic)
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:08 pm
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I was just wondering...
I think you said I had won a storybook Bible. For some reason I never recieved an email about that.
Oh, and I love my name, too....literally! =)

Thanks for sharing your tribute with us, Rachel. I'm sure your dad will be blessed by it.

My dad is really my hero. That might sound like a cliche but it is really true! I am very blessed!!
Kathy
Yup
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:36 pm
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Yea sometimes we just aren't happy with what God has given us. But I am just sooo thankful for my daddy! <333
Katie Bea
Yeah "WOW"
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 5:40 pm
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I got half way through and read the rest through tears! That is the same way I feel about my dad (stepdad). But I would have never been able to say it that well. God has truly blessed me to have my Daddy! Great letter, Rachel! (Thumbs-up)
Mere N.
Off topic, but I need help.
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:09 pm
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I've been struggling with an issue lately.
When I'm in public with my family, and I'm carrying my baby sister in my arms, I get mean glares and dirty looks from people. People who assume I'm her mother, and, erm, 'did it' at my young age of sixteen.
Earlier we were in Walmart, and I just kept getting mean glances, or people would slightly glare then move away their eye contact.
Not that I'm looking for any approval from complete strangers at Walmart, but...it makes me sad.
I was crying earlier, and was getting teary-eyed in the building.
It felt like no one liked me, I was alone, no one wanted to accept me, and I just felt rejected. It was like people were mad at me for something I didn't do. For being there to help my parents.
Can I have a little advice about this?
I hate feeling sad, but I still am.
Because those glares dug deep. They cut into my heart.
And no one seems to understand.
monica
Re:
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:30 pm
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So sweet Rachel!! Love it! and I have to say it makes me a little jealous, I used to dream about having a Dad that said positive things about me and hugged me, but I guess Im 23 now, so I dont really need a Dad anymore and it doesnt bother me much anymore. up side to it, it made me a strong independant person so I guess there's a good side to everything:)
Erica
I love my Daddy too!
on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 11:50 pm
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So blessed to be able to say that I have a wonderful Daddy too! He has been there for me every step of the way even when I am sure that I was not worthy of his love and support! I love you Daddy!!!
CH
Re: Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 12:20 am
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Mere N.- I would say to you that it really does not matter what other people think about you.
you know that you have done nothing wrong. Take time to thank God that you have not made impure decisions and pray that you would love those "harsh on-lookers" that you see in public.
Just Remember...God loves you with an everlasting love. Nothing can separate you from that love...NOTHING! That should be such an encouragement to us! So...do as Jesus did, and turn the other cheek ;)
Julie
Thanks!
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 12:47 am
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Wow! My Dad is really similar. thank you Rachel for your tribute, it gives me ideas for what to say to my dad.
Yvonne Trugman
Prodigal Dauaghter
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 1:57 am
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I have a 33 yo daughter who was married for 14 years, to a husband who had 5 affairs during that time. The last time was the last straw for her. She tried to get him to counciling and he went twice and refused. then he walked out of the marriage. three children are involved. I can't say that she was a strong christian.
she eloped to marry. Now she is living with a man who is divorced with 5 girls. They also share the same home with a gay man. She declares she will never marry again. And I am going crazy trying to deal with all this. Our children were raised in a conservative christian home, homeschooled, and soo much of my lifr was invested in them, giving up a career to be what I believed the Lord wanted me to be for them. My heart is breaking for her kids, a 12yo girl, 9yo girl, 4yo son.Plus of course I am going through a gammet of emotions for my daughter~anger,pity,frustration,and a paralizing fear for all their souls. God knows I love her so much that the pain in love is crushing.
Elaine
Re Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 8:05 am
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Wow, I'm surprised they do that! I lug around my baby sister (she's actually a toddler) and I don't get that. O we get stares o matter who's holding her because she's adopted from Ethiopia and because we dress really modest. But I have to admit, some people think I'm married. I guess I'm so used to people staring at me and thinking I'm nuts that it doesn't bother me anymore most of the time. I definatly agree with CH. It only matters what God thinks. I'm sure he's pretty happy that you'r helping your family. Being the girl that I am I'd smile a huge smile at them or something like that. Since we get so many questions and stares sometimes it seems to be funner if we just say something really idiodic just to see their face. Then we can laugh it off. Hope that helps!
gracefulklutz
Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 8:38 am
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Mere N., those people sound rude and judgmental, but are you sure that's why they are giving you funny looks? I'm not sure what advice to give you, because that does sound tough, but I wanted to let you know that I've experienced the same, only without the meanness. I have a niece and nephew, and when I take them to the playground, there's almost always a child there asking me I I'm their mom. Basically, I just shrug it off and answer them sweetly, because I know I look older to them. I volunteer at a Christian crisis pregnancy center, and the other day I got a flat tire while I was there. The AAA man came to put on the spare, and the whole time I was thinking, "Man, I hope he doesn't think that I'm a client here. Maybe I should tell him that I work here." I finally just decided that I was being silly, the man didn't even know me, and if he ever did come to know me, he'd find out that I was just fine. The best advice I can give you is this: just enjoy having a little sister. There are tons of big sisters that love to take care of their little sisters, so there is no reason for people to give you strange looks. Talk to your parents about it too, if you haven't already. God loves you and knows your heart :)
Mere N.
Thanks.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 8:45 am
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Thanks so far to all of you who've taken
A little time to encourage me about this. I love my sister, and I love being around her, no matter what people think about me.
I just don't like being glared at.
I'm upset easily, but I usually try not to cry unless I'm alone, and one of the things that makes me upset the most is a glare or a mean look. I know it sounds silly that that upsets me, but I can't help it. It just does.

Thanks again for all your advice.
RachelAllison
@Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:29 am
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Dear girl, I understand. It is difficult to deal with people who seemingly do not like you. You feel as if there is something wrong with you personally, because these people are criticizing you. This is something that I have dealt with much the last couple of years... yes, I get people who think my little cousins (who are much younger than me) are mine and I get strange looks when I'm taking care of them in public, but even more difficult to deal with is people in our church (pastor's kid, here) who criticize us and are mean... because it feels personal. As if I'm not good enough, because obviously if I was they would like me, right? And it's important to me, not even necessarily because I'm concerned what people think of me, but because I like to make people happy and if people are not happy, I easily assume it is my fault.... so if anything and if you can relate to any of this, know that you are not alone. But also know that God knows you and He sees your heart - a part of you that NONE of these other people can see. And He knows the purity of your intentions and the sweetness of your servant's attitude... and in the end that's ALL that matters - truly the only thing. Because I could spend my time hurting over the judgement of these people who are living in bitterness and hurting others by it, or I could realize that I've only done my best to love as I should and help where I ought to help and the fault does not lie with me. So instead of allowing their bitterness to cut deep in my heart and sew bitterness there, I can see that their hearts are bitter and I can entrust their hearts through prayer to my great God, who knows the heart and works in it through His Holy Spirit. Because God is in charge of hearts, that is His specific workplace, and He is able to turn the most bitter heart into a gracious one.
So rather than allowing this judging to hurt you, take this opportunity to pray for these people and bless them, even as they judge you, because blessing others is the surest way to bless ourselves and I pray that as you do this, the hurt will subside and you will see this difficulty as a great opportunity to pray for others who surely need it. To pray for their hearts, that God would work in them and soften them for His glory.
And in the mean time, I will be praying for you, Mere, and thanking God for the way that you help your parents and take care of your siblings, because THAT is beautiful and so are you. :)
Peace and Blessings,
RachelAllison
RachelAllison
P.S,
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:33 am
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Also take this time to make a mental note in your mind of how it feels to be judged, so that you may be even more apt to love rather than judge others when you see their situation... that is always a good thing to do when you experience pain, is to realize that this will help you to better understand and encourage others who deal with the same things.
RachelAllison
Beautiful Post
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:37 am
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Beautiful post, by the way, Rachel... what a lovely tribute to your father and how blessed you are to have such a loving dad. We must remember to keep from taking our dad's from granted, right? It is so easy to do, sometimes... but this was a good reminder of just how much my dad does for me and means to me and how little I tell him how I appreciate all he does. Thank you for sharing! <3
Lorree, with the LYWB team
Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
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I’m so sorry you have felt the sting of judgmental attitudes of others. We are so capable of jumping to conclusions without knowing the whole story! I appreciate you sharing your struggle because it speaks to my heart to be careful about judging others.

Believe me, friend, you are not alone in this! Our oldest daughter has been in your shoes, enduring the glares of unknowing strangers while ministering to me by caring for her younger siblings. She was such a blessing in being willing to help however she could at that time of her life. I encourage you to not be weary in doing good and helping your parents (2 Thess. 3:13) my friend, because at the proper time, God will give you your reward (Col. 3:23-25)! I’ve prayed for you today and asked God to comfort you, to bless you for your ministry to your family and to restore your heart to not fear man (Prov. 29:25), but to trust and seek to please our Heavenly Father above all else.
Lorree, with the LYWB team
Yvonne
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:42 pm
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Yvonne, I am so sorry for the pain you hold in your momma’s heart due to the poor choices of your daughter. Having a prodigal child hurts so badly. I don’t know if you listened to the program last week on Revive Our Hearts. It was on prodigal children – the testimony of both the mom and the prodigal. Please follow this link (http://tinyurl.com/72xc76c) and listen.

Remember, Yvonne, nothing is too hard for God (Jer. 32:17). He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20). I’ve prayed for you today and asked the Lord to use this series to encourage you to not give up hope and to continue to pray and wait expectantly for what God will do in her heart and in yours.
Mere N.
Re: Lorree with the LYWB team.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:55 pm
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Lorree, thank you so much for the encouragement. It makes me glad to know that I'm not alone, and those verses are encouraging.
I'm feeling lots better today. I've been so blessed by other girls on the site and the women on this team, for all the encouragement and prayers.
God bless all of you!
Mere N.
Katie Bea
Re:Mere N.
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 3:35 pm
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Mere N., I am third of twelve and needless to say, I am always packing a baby on my hip. I know the glares and the dirty looks you get. I get them too. The first time I saw it, it was an old woman in Wal-Mart. Mom had sent me to the other side of the store to return something to it's shelf. When I was passing the old lady, I smiled at her and she glared and turned away. I was hurt. I didn't know what I had done to deserve that. Then noticed the baby on my hip and realized she thought he was mine! I was crying by the time I got back to Mom. She said it didn't matter what other people thought of you as long as you and God knew you had done nothing wrong. So I try not to let it bug me, but it does hurt to know people think that of you.

I know how it feels...try not to let it bother you. And know you are doing the right thing by helping your parents.
Kelsey
@mere n
on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:20 pm
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Hey girl
I like the rest know exactly what you are going through! I do a ton of babysitting and I know how awkward it feels to have people give you odd side glances!! Always remember what the truth is though, and don't allow their glances to stop you from ministering to your parents. They don't know the truth about you!! And remember that God knows the truth and he is not looking down from heaven giving you a judgemental glance!! Keep your head high and keep helping others....people will always talk but God knows the heart!!
Christina
Tribute
on Friday, June 15, 2012 at 9:20 pm
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I like this a lot Rachel, you really love your dad and that's good:)
Mattea
Re:
on Monday, June 18, 2012 at 6:53 am
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WoW! Rachel,,,you r really blessed!!GREAT TRIBUTE!!!