A recent photo of Sean, Michaela, and Jennifer Wilhelm
The most powerful influence on my life is . . . my daughter
By Jennifer Wilhelm
Editor's Note: This is a touching and intimate confession from one of the women I admire most.
The biggest influence in my life is . . . my daughter. I want to say my
parents, or my husband, but if I did I would be lying. It is my
daughter who taught me patience and strength. She taught me that true
love doesn't need to be expressed in words. The moment she entered my
life, at the age of four, I began a spiritual and mental strength
training program unlike any other. I fought for her and with her. I
stood up for her in schools and doctor's offices. I learned how to
fill out forms, stacks of them. I learned how to cry and scream and
pray at the same time. She demonstrated how to walk without touching
the ground, how to eat without food actually entering your mouth, and
how to run really fast. She delicately explained how impossible it is
to sleep. I learned that no matter how much I willed for her to talk,
to be what I wanted her to be, I could not make that happen. I learned
acceptance. Not giving up, but releasing my control of the situation.
Through watching my daughter grow into the young woman she is now, I
have seen pure joy. I have felt it, too.
parents, or my husband, but if I did I would be lying. It is my
daughter who taught me patience and strength. She taught me that true
love doesn't need to be expressed in words. The moment she entered my
life, at the age of four, I began a spiritual and mental strength
training program unlike any other. I fought for her and with her. I
stood up for her in schools and doctor's offices. I learned how to
fill out forms, stacks of them. I learned how to cry and scream and
pray at the same time. She demonstrated how to walk without touching
the ground, how to eat without food actually entering your mouth, and
how to run really fast. She delicately explained how impossible it is
to sleep. I learned that no matter how much I willed for her to talk,
to be what I wanted her to be, I could not make that happen. I learned
acceptance. Not giving up, but releasing my control of the situation.
Through watching my daughter grow into the young woman she is now, I
have seen pure joy. I have felt it, too.
This is Micki's Mother's Day gift to Jennifer for 2015.
It is bright and lovely, just like both of them!
It is bright and lovely, just like both of them!
Copyright © 2014 by Rent's Due Publications
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, click a button on any page to send email with details of the request.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, click a button on any page to send email with details of the request.