Cathy Burkholder, Associate Pastor at Community Presbyterian Church in Danville

If you are facing bigger challenges than you ever thought possible when it comes to parenting, know you are not alone.  You can do more than simply survive as parents - you can thrive and so can your teenager.

GEMs of Wisdom from  “Moving from Surviving to Thriving” by Pastor Cathy Burkholder of Community Presbyterian Church in Danville:

Cathy, Thank you for blessing us with your story.  

It was a HEARTFELT AND PERSONAL JOURNEY.

Cathy shared as a fellow mom, acknowledging in the depths of trials with our kids, we often feel isolated and alone, but God did not intend for us to do this alone. We need God and we need one another. 

We must guard our marriage. 

We benefit from loving affirmation and truth spoken by those who have traveled the road we are on.

During a time of immense challenge raising a special needs son, Cathy was given transforming advice by a friend, “Stop parenting the child you wish you had, and start parenting the one you have.” 

When we surrender certain hopes and expectations to God, we can grieve and then fully place our trust in God who has the plan to grow our sons and daughters into the men and women He intended. Cathy reflected it was then she and her husband moved from surviving to thriving.