Last Updated on March 5, 2024
I’ve always been passionate. Passion for me spills over into just about everything I do. I cook with passion, trying to improve each recipe. I write with passion, about the things I really care about. I speak with passion and I am easily charged about things I deem right or wrong.
I am raising nine passionate kids and they have an opinion about everything they deem right or wrong, too. Unfortunately for me, somewhere in the mid-teen years, some of my beautiful children have decided that most of what I say is wrong and all of what their friends say is right.
So it overwhelmed my heart with joy to hear the interaction from my college-aged daughter’s speech and debate class. Her passion led her to stand up for abstinence and when her instructor asked, “Who is your example?” she passionately stated that she was. When my son recently came home from college he was passionate about all that he was learning and I see a new zeal for Christ in him.
I now have four kids off preparing for life and career. My new oldest at home are three girls (less than three years apart) who are passionately growing in PMS, hormones, and teenaged self-centeredness.
Recently it was getting real close to one of my girls’ birthdays and I knew we needed to prepare for her party. I approached her and said, “We need to prepare for your birthday. But no slumber party this year.” She not-so-gently told me that I always squelched everything she wanted to do and that she would just ask her daddy. Now, I don’t know how you would have reacted, but the passion in me was asking me to get up and turn over the chair she was sitting in.
It took everything that was in me to deny my passion at that moment.
As I tried to sleep that night, I remembered that Jesus was persecuted, mocked, spat on, and crucified by those that felt that he was wrong though everything about Him was right. He could have come down off that cross and flipped every taunting voice off their feet, silencing them by death. But our Savior instead asked God to forgive them.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
My sweet daughter and I talked the next day; both of us having had adequate time to cool off our passions. Passion has its place, but passion should never cause the ones we love to fear us.
There have been many times I have so desired to “put the fear of God” in my children by doing something so fierce that they would fear me. Yes, fear may bring compliance for a little while, but I am more concerned with my children’s heart for Christ.
I thank God for His truth. True love will always look for ways to forgive.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:2-8
Robyn McKelvy has devoted her life to the care and building up of others. In her home, through the church her husband pastors and through years of speaking at Weekend To Remember Get-Away’s around the country as well as countless women’s events. Robyn is the mom of seventeen children, seven in heaven and nine amazing souls here on earth who have received her full attention from the time they were born or grafted into her family. Robyn’s book SOS – Sick of Sex is in stores now as is her devotional book, Say IT Loud: Becoming your husband’s personal cheerleader. Robyn has been a mom for 24 years and married to Ray for over 25 years.
Amen, sister! You are one of the few reasons I’m glad I’m on Facebook!! Have a blessed day! I still love you SO much!!!!!
Thanks Iness! Love and miss you too.
Robyn you are really something special, and yes, you and all your children exude a unique passion for all that you do. I admire that you're able to contain your passion when it won't necessarily be beneficial. I need to work on that myself, not with kids, but with my dear husband. Thanks for the inspiration this morning! † Shana †
Love you, thanks Shana.
Robyn!!! I love you and miss you. I so wish I lived right beside you. It's been on my heart alot lately to have no fear in this child rearing thing. Your article spoke to me all the way from title to the end. God has to remind me daily to "Fear Not" but meet it head on with Him leading the way. Thanks for sharing.
Donna Brown
Oh, my comment sounds like I missed the point of your post but I too have to resist "putting the fear of me"in my people here. Love you and would love to see your precious family. You think you might ever come for a Charleston tour?
We will have to arrange that and bring everyone. Does your table fix 33 people?
OMG! That's so awesome!! Thank you for reminding us that our children/teenagers (those "THINGS" as daddy used to call us) are also sons and daughters of the Most High God, and our "passion" (even when we deem is much needed) should be seasoned with salt, full of grace and love! Colossians 4:6
Love you Rob!
Love you, too, Steph!
Robyn, I love your posts and everything about you & agree with all the good things everyone has said–you really are amazing and I admire your passion and your restraint of it when necessary. I wasn't able to contact you to let you know I couldn't come to the reunion at Easter time. I had been in the hospital with a pulmonary problem, & wasn't going out among people yet. I'm much better& would love to see you all ! I really like the point you make about wanting the fear of God in your children, but not the fear of Mom (or Dad). It is just as important for us to respect them as for them to respect us.
Thanks for reading, Judy. I will try to see you next time we are in KC.
This was great. It was cool to hear about your college daughter doing a debate that led to standing up for abstinence. I had the same debate when I was in college. That’s one of the things I’m most passionate about. I love your heart and I don’t know how one person can give so much as you do – humm, it must be God in you that makes you so amazing!!
Thanks, Dechari. Keep me in your prayers.
Insightful words. Especially to the mother of a teenager.