There is something wonderfully magical about watching your daughter enter a new stage in her life. My daughter and I went to a nail salon for me to get a pedicure and a manicure. I was singing in a wedding and I wanted to look my best. Usually when we go she plays with her game boy and is totally satisfied. This time she asked if she could get a manicure like mine. At first I told her no because, honestly, I was not thinking. The “No” came out way too fast. When I saw the look of disappointment on her face I immediately told her to go pick out a nice frosty pink color and let them do her nails. She beamed as she went to get her color and she kept looking at me and smiling while the nail technician did her manicure. I sat there in wonderment. It was the best feeling in the world. My nine year old daughter is growing up! Don’t get me wrong, I know how old she is and I also know that the day would come when she would want to emulate me, but this day was the day the light bulb showed it’s brightest. We were embarking on a new path. I am getting to know my daughter in a new light. Sure, she still acts like a tomboy and argues with her brother over who gets the power leaf blower, but she is becoming a little softer. She is more sensitive about her feelings; she is almost wearing them on her sleeves. Her mood swings are off the charts and sometimes I don’t know whether to punish her or console her when she says things that I know are out of order. Kennedy is blazing a new trail for both of us. We are learning about one another once again.
Just like my daughter wanted to be like me, I want to become more like Jesus. She wanted to be like me, getting the manicure and participating in the same thing I was doing. I won’t say I was just like Jesus in that instance because I told her no at first without thinking. I am so glad Jesus is not like us. However just as I took pleasure in watching my daughter wanting to be like me, Jesus takes pleasure in watching us wanting to be like him.
What is your new stage in life? What corners are you turning? My daughter is turning the corner, heading to a new stage in her life and I am excited to be a part of it. I am also becoming so much more careful so she will follow me as I follow Christ. Check out where you are and where you want to be. Don’t be afraid to emulate Jesus. He won’t say “No.” He is waiting for you to say, “I want to be just like you!”
Minister Darlene Thorne has been in the music ministry for over 20 years. Her fourfold purpose of her ministry along with her husband is to…
Lead God’s people into a life transforming worship experience;
Create an atmosphere where the spirit of God can have free reign in the lives of His people;
Wage spiritual warfare on the enemy;
and most importantly, to Glorify God.
Darlene’s heart cry is to impact the lives of believers so that they desire to enter into God’s presence and experience the power of praise and the awesome wonder of worship. She and her husbands’ teaching ministry have taken them across the country where they have ministered in many churches.
The Thorns now call North Carolina home. Darlene is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, IL with a degree in Communications. She has been married for 20 years to her husband Kevin and they together are raising their two world changer children Kevin and Kennedy Elayne.