When I was real little there was a special dolly at the store that I really wanted. I wasn’t the sort of kid to beg my parents for toys often, as I knew they didn’t have much. Although I did ask my mom for this particular dolly. My mom had to tell me no. Not because she was mean, but because she couldn’t right then. Money was tight. As a mom now myself, I can see that it probably broke her heart more than it did mine. I am certain at a later date, for a holiday, she probably got me, if not that doll, something similar. As a parent we love our children so much and we want to give them the very best life possible. Everything good within our means. Not to make our children spoiled but to nurture, care, bring them joy and make them feel loved. Although my mom always made me feel this way, even if she had to say no to dollies sometimes. For I have learned the best life we can offer our children is beyond what money and material possessions can buy. Yes, those are essential and important; though they are not everything. I remember my dad buying me these faith-based movies about the Bible. This was back when VHS was the way to watch movies. I’d watch them over and over again. I only had a few at the time, as that was what was in our budget. But the ones I had, I made good use of. I know it cost my parents a pretty penny at the time, but they knew that the value in the films, was an investment. When my parents did splurge a little, they made it count. As I have come to realize as a mom it wasn’t in the big expensive things where I felt the most loved though. It was the Friday night TV marathons with my mom, it was the antique stores with my dad, it was snuggles with my mom on the couch and the art museum with my dad, it was homemade caramel popcorn with my mom and dad reminding me that I was his favorite daughter (although his only one). Though most of all, it was my mom showing me compassion and love for others and my dad introducing me to my faith. They weren’t perfect parents, just as I am not. Though they were parents doing their best, showing love in all the ways money cannot buy and setting up my foundation for compassion for others, humility, the art of being frugal and mostly love for others, and especially God. Friend, I think most of us as parents can all agree that we want the best for our children. Though it is okay to spoil a little here and there when we can, there is so much more than that with giving our kids the best life possible. It is in the day-to-day acts of love and mostly, setting them up with eternity in mind. I am grateful for the goodness that my parents did give. For they set me up with a foundation of faith. Despite even their imperfections, it shaped who I became. As a mother now myself, I know that the best life I can offer my children is one with a foundation of love and most importantly, a foundation of faith in their Lord and Savior.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Best life possible

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 NIV

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.