This Ain't Your Daughter's Momma's Prom

     Ah, Prom. My daughter had her Senior prom a couple of weeks ago.  I was more nervous than she was.  With hair straightened, she not only looked beautiful, but let me help with makeup and her dress.  I can't even begin to remember when this happened last!
     My daughter met up with her friends at a scenic spot in town for pictures.  What fun they had.  A few of them had dates.  Those boys stood by the side avoiding the girls and the pictures as though they carried the plague.  Hilarious!
     On to prom then for a very nice dinner and dance.  Prom ended at 11pm and my husband picked her up and brought her home.  She still looked beautiful.  She had had a wonderful time and told me all about it.  I was so happy for her. 
     Of course all of this made me feel nostalgic.  But my prom experience and that of my friends was very different.  Let's just leave it at that.
     I began to realize a few things about my daughter.  She is the total opposite of me. 
    She skipped prom last year to go to my dad's 70th birthday party.  His health is failing and we wanted to do something special for him.  I didn't even know it was prom weekend until she told me during the party--I asked.  Stunned, I told her we could have worked it out for her to go.  She said, "No Mom, grandpa's birthday is more important."
     Because of this selfless attitude, I wanted prom to be perfect for her this year.  We bought THE dress, THE shoes, THE jewelry.  Then, I asked about "after parties".  She said she hadn't been asked.  I told her she could have one here.  She said no, she was sure she'd be tired and ready to come home after the main event. 
     No boy asked her to prom and she wasn't phased by this at all.  She didn't want to ask anyone herself, even just as "friends".  She was happy going with her girlfriends.  And, she didn't come home in a condition that would have included unhappy or forgotten memories of her senior prom.
     I do not know how I ended up with a daughter that is so full of self-confidence and an unselfish attitude.  She is kind and caring.  She is intelligent.  She realizes there will be time enough for boyfriends in the future.  She's focused on her education right now.  And, she is really responsible.  Turn those attributes around, and you had me at 18.
     I look back on the growning up years.  I look ahead to the future.  My daughter isn't perfect and we may have problems ahead.  There's a lot of advice I can give, but more I shouldn't.  I was far from the perfect mom...please.
     When younger moms comment on a girl's behavior and want to know how to raise their little daughter's to be Christ-centered, I could tell them many things.  Let her be who God meant her to be, pray for her daily and then some, patience really is a virtue, especially before you speak.  But if you want to be a Christ centered parent and raise a Christ-centered child then it's easy.  
     Keep Christ in the center.