Hello, Everyone! Blessings from the great state of Texas!! My name is Ronnie Hollingsworth, and I am the father of P-Squad Racer, Re’ Hollingsworth.
Who knew when our daughter, Re’, signed up for the World Race that her mother, Rene’, and I were going on an adventure, too? The last six months have been an adventure of faith, watching the Lord work His wonders on behalf of our eldest daughter. From the start, funding has been a source of intense prayer. We have watched as God has miraculously provided for her every need. From old friends, whom we hadn’t seen in years, to brand new acquaintances, the finances have slowly (but surely) come in—to the point where Re’ is now completely funded!
Beyond the money, however, there has been an amazing shift: her smile has returned. There is a genuine joy and rekindled zest for life in the eyes of our baby girl. The way she talks about Jesus, the way she speaks of the people she serves with and those she continues to encounter, the way her eyes sparkle just talking about her day. God has resurrected her indomitable spirit and playful innocence, for which we have earnestly contended in prayer. And this is merely the half-way point!! The Father can do amazing things when we trust Him. Does that make it easy? Not exactly.
When Re’ was little, my wife would often work on Saturdays, so I became her playmate (cheap entertainment really). We would go to the park and spend hours just running and playing, laughing and adventuring. No Netflix or YouTube. Just us. As she continued to grow, she still relied on me for help with writing assignments, math homework, or buying her first guitar. Eventually, though, family time gave way to spending time with her friends. Plans for nursing school were replaced with flying off to L.A. to serve at the Dream Center. Then, came the World Race. More distance than ever before in our relationship. Suddenly, she’s not just a plane ride away. As a dad, I have never felt more out of control or disconnected. Not something I would normally (much less readily) admit, but I feel like other parents might be able to relate. We raise our children to leave the nest, one day, and to hopefully discover God’s purpose for their lives. To run the race set before them with passion and perseverance. But when that moment arrives, so many questions arise. Did we adequately prepare them? Could or should we have done things differently? Are we willing to give them completely to God? Do we trust Him to carry them the rest of the way? Waiting to see the harvest from the seeds we have planted is the most difficult part of the job. Especially from this distance.
All of last year, I kept hearing the words “open hands”. Many situations arose to test my resolve to allow the Lord to add things to my life, as well as take things away. But when our daughter left in October, that was the moment of truth: would I be willing to give her to God like Abraham offered Isaac? With His help, my daily (sometimes moment-by-moment) answer is “yes”.
Honestly, I was not sure what to expect from the Lord when we embarked on this journey, but we all knew this was the direction He was leading. Consistent to His nature, Jesus has not disappointed; in fact, He has once again exceeded our expectations. I can’t wait to see the view from our vantage point at the end of this incredible experience! Let me leave you with these words:
Psalm 126:5-6 (MSG)
And now, God, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
Good message Ronnie!
It is so hard to become a good passenger when your used to driving and leading the way. Giving enough room and safety to develop at the speed they choose. My hardest point is having learned so many things along the way that could be of benefit yet for them may not be valued yet or potentially even necessary (which is hard to consider). My efforts Have good intentions but wearing my suit of armor may be too weighty for them and their purpose.
Ronnie, What a wonderful explanation of parenting. You are a Blessing and I am so excited to see what the Lord will continue to do in and through your family as you give your girls wings to fly for Our Lord!
“There are two lasting gifts we can give to our children.
One is roots
The other wings.”
LIJ, J Ps. 127!