Hi there, friends, family, and readers of the blog!
My name is René and Ré is my daughter. You may hear me call her “Sydnee Régan” (her given name). She changed my life, challenges me to be a better person, and inspires me. It is a privilege to be her mom.
I want to speak to the parents of current or future World Racers especially. God prepared my heart and I am praying He is preparing your heart before you arrive to the day your young adult says, “I believe God is leading me to go on the World Race.” I pray for you to trust in the Lord with all your heart. To believe God is faithful and believe He will lead them. You can let go of them, knowing God can take them to places they have only dreamed. When they learn to trust God, it is like releasing a butterfly for the first time. They are fragile, and God chose you to guide them up to the point of release. Looking back over the last couple of years, I would say God prepared my heart for what was to come. It made me press into Him more.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV) says: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
My weakness was holding on to fear. I was fearful of all kinds of things, both real and unreal. When you lean into Jesus and put your trust in Him, He gives you peace when the world says you should not have it. He will confirm that which He calls your young adult to and give you the confidence to let go of them so that they can take the Kingdom Journey God has called them to. I am proud of Ré for choosing to be brave in the midst of her doubts. At one point, I can remember her not wanting to be more than two hours away from us. Now, she has gone to many places far away from home.
If I could tell a parent one thing, it would be to encourage them in letting go of their young person so that they can have their own Kingdom Journey. It’s not about you—it’s about them (and I say this with the kindest of feeling). They are right where God wants them when they are seeking first the Kingdom of God. Release them and let them fly! I find when I hold on too tightly it only causes more struggle.
Trusting in Jesus,
René
–Ré here! I just wanted to say thank you to my parents for joining my blogging process and writing guest blogs for me! I will be posting my dad’s guest blog next! These two amazing parents of mine are writing these blogs pre-PVT which is NEXT MONTH! I can’t believe that I get to see them in less than 30 days. They will be joining me next month in Romania for the Parent Vision Trip, which is a mission trip through Adventures in Missions for WR parents to join us racers in-country for 5 days. They are hopping into this wild journey with me and really experiencing life in-context on the field. After PVT, they will guest blog again to let all of you in on the experience from a parent’s perspective. I’m so excited to not only see them so, SO soon, but to also hear what they have to say post-PVT about their World Race experience!–
God has blessed me so much with family that continues to love and serve Almighty God. Blessings on all the parents who share their children with God. Grandie+
Love you Baby girl! So EXCITED!!!!! I get to see you in person!!!!!! Yay!
Love Mom
Blessings on you – such a wonderful Mom!
Wow,Hollingsworth!Speechless right now!Hope you girls&boys have the best PVT ever!Miss Hollingsworth,it was an honor getting to hear from you!Best regards,Klitjan Cibuku.(P.s. I’m writing from my job computer.)