If you had asked me 10 years ago…or even 6 or 7…how I would feel when Bethany turned 18, I likely would have admitted to a little apprehension. In her younger years, Bethany was my most challenging child. Things like obedience, diligence, attentiveness, and personal responsibility were qualities that developed only through many hard-fought lessons that, at first, seemed to yield little fruit.
Yet, as we celebrate Bethany’s eighteen years today, I am amazed at how far she has come. While once I had to literally look over her shoulder to ensure schoolwork or chores got done, she is now highly responsible, focused and diligent.
She remains, as always, tenacious and confident. Don’t ever tell this girl that she is not capable of something. She will prove you wrong. Case in point: several years ago, she wanted to learn how to sew. Since I know little about sewing, I found an easy purse-sewing project for her that ended up requiring countless corrections before it was done satisfactorily. Not to be dissuaded, she insisted on trying to sew dresses. No in-between projects, no real instruction. The first couple were disasters. Being the encouraging mom that I am, I told her as much, and cringed doubtfully each time she said she was going to try another one. Over many attempts, she learned to apply constructive criticism. She watched youtube videos. She practiced. She re-did many parts of many projects. And now? Bethany can design, create a pattern for, and sew an awesome dress in a matter of days (in her free time). She can also make jewelry, change the oil in our cars, play piano, guitar and flute, bake and decorate beautiful cakes, and so much more.
She continues to be brilliant. While her grades haven’t always reflected as much, she is a math wiz…not because she spends a lot of time learning (like I had to), but because she just gets it (more like Tim). She has 18 college credits at this point – with a 4.0 average – and has risen to each challenge presented in taking online courses, from communicating with professors, to giving zoom presentations, to standing firm in her convictions when being “taught” biased rhetoric instead of facts. She runs circles around me in her understanding of anything science-related, and has even made great strides in her writing abilities, though spelling remains her achilles heel…which I guess I’ve accepted if for no other reason than it serves to help keep her humble :).
Though strong-willed, Bethany also has a faith that is firm and authoritative in her life. She will push back to correction, but never to the Biblical principles behind correction, and when she is confronted with a Biblical standard, she readily acknowledges the need to abide by it. She has grown in compassion, patience and grace, and is beautiful inside and out.
In short, I am immensely proud of the young lady that Bethany has become. No longer apprehensive about how she will handle adulthood, I am instead excited to see the direction she takes and the impact she makes on the world around her. I love my Miss Bethany so much and it is such a privilege and blessing to celebrate her eighteen years today.