• About
  • Books
  • One Word
    • One Word
    • Shop One Word Cards
  • Cousin Camp
  • Speaking
  • Audio
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

Wisdom for Every Season

  • Character
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Seasons
  • Marriage
  • Parenting
  • Cousin Camp
  • Ask Susan

A Mother’s Day Tribute to My Daughters-In-Law

by Susan Alexander Yates

I have two fine sons, amazing men. But when I think about it, one of best things they have ever done is to marry the women they did.

When they were infants I began to pray for the wives they might one day marry (if it was God’s will for them to marry). I prayed these little girls would come to know Christ, and that He would forever be their first love. I prayed they would be handpicked by God and I even prayed for their parents as they were raising them–for wisdom and endurance. After all, I hoped there were some future in-laws out there praying for us as we raised these boys! We needed those prayers.

Over the years we prayed over a lot of “break ups and a few make ups.” We had our share of broken hearts. Yet through all those years God was at work. In his perfect time he brought two wonderful women into my sons’ lives.

Yates ladies

Yates Girls’ Getaway

These women have become my other daughters. I love them like my own flesh and blood and I am so incredibly grateful to God for them.

Why?

They love my boys. Every time I’m in either of their homes I am impressed by the way they seek to serve their husbands. They make me want to be more intentional in serving my husband, John.

They put up with me when I have too many ideas for them or their husbands. They laugh with me. And sometimes at me, in a good way. Humor can be an incredible tool in releasing tension.

They listen to my advice and don’t take it when it’s not the wisest thing for them.

They fill me in on the details of what is happening in their lives and in their families. If I had to rely on my boys, I might not know anything!

They let me take care of their children. Both have four.

They seek Jesus and want to grow in him and they are raising their kids to love Christ.

They share books and articles with me. They challenge me to grow in many areas.

They introduce me to their friends and are pleased for their friends to get to know me. This makes me feel so loved.

They pray for me.

They forgive me and grant me grace. They know we are family for the long haul and therefore we will all need a lot of forgiveness and grace to continue to grow closer instead of drifting apart.

They make time with us a priority. That’s hard with huge families and friends with whom they also want to spend time.

They don’t care that I’m a lousy cook. Especially since they are both great cooks!

They make photo albums for me and do the Christmas and birthday shopping for me.

They express gratitude to me in so many ways: cards, notes, calls and they have trained their kids to do the same. I don’t feel taken for granted.

They make me feel needed and wanted.

And so as Mother’s Day approaches and I contemplate my many blessings, I find among the top are Christy and Alysia. But also the three amazing daughters God gave to me and John: Allison, Susy, and Libby. You five daughters are the greatest blessing in my life. (Right up there with your dad and your husbands!)

Thank you for loving me all these years, for loving your husbands, and the 21 grandchildren you have given us! God has used each one of you in my life in countless ways and I am incredibly blessed to have you.

Share116
Pin
Tweet
Email
Print
116Shares
Share116
Share
Pin
Text
116Shares

You may also enjoy...

In-Laws
May 1, 2018 · 3 Comments

« 8 Keys To Make Your Marriage Last and Thrive
A Tribute to My Two Mothers »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Esther Plaster says

    May 3, 2018 at 8:24 am

    This is precious Susan. Good reminders & challenging. Today I woke my oldest boy up for school. He is just in the verge of manhood. Thank you for reminding me how fast it goes & also that I need to be praying more consistently for the spouses of my children, as well as the process to get there! I so appreciate your wise words.

    Reply
  2. Judy Stokes says

    May 2, 2018 at 8:43 am

    What a beautiful tribute, Susan. How good of God to equip you during those early years, to be seeking Him through your prayers and actions. What a testimony! What a blessing for oh so many people who are seeing and being loved by your Christ-like families!
    Much love and gratitude,
    Judy

    Reply
  3. Gretchen Louise says

    May 1, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    What a beautiful tribute, Susan! And what important reminders for me as a daughter-in-law, of the ways I can bless my mother-in-law. Thank you.

    Reply

Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Read more…

Recent Posts

  • Is Your Nest “Emptying”? 4 Ideas for Dropping Off Your Freshman
  • From Discouragement to Blessing: 3 Ideas to Transform Your Day
  • 9 Books I Loved: To Inspire, Entertain, and Encourage You
  • How I Heard Nature Sing — and What It Taught Me About God
  • Help, I Can’t Do it All: 4 Faith Principles for Overwhelmed Moms

One Word

One Word: Sufficient

Featured Book

Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp
Buy This Book Online
30% Off
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Christian Book Distributor
Buy from Lifeway
Buy from Books-A-Million
Buy from GoodReads
Cousin Camp
Buy now!

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure
Buy now!
  • Certainty In Christ
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Index

Search

Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp
Buy This Book Online
30% Off
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Christian Book Distributor
Buy from Lifeway
Buy from Books-A-Million
Buy from GoodReads
Cousin Camp
Buy now!

Popular

  • 8 Things to Do When You Really Don’t Like Your…
  • What Every Wife Needs: Two Simple Things to Tell…
  • The One Thing Your Child Needs the Most

Are you getting ready for an empty nest? Taking ki Are you getting ready for an empty nest? Taking kids to college this fall? I'm blogging about that this week, with 4 ideas for dropping off your freshman. (And Barbara Rainey @everthinehome and I wrote a book about this!) 

Links to both the book and blog in my bio. Or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
Melody and I leaving for our 4 day hike in the Ol Melody and I leaving for our 4 day hike in the Olympic National Park in Washington state! 🏞🏕
This acronym serves as a guide for prayer. I have This acronym serves as a guide for prayer. I have found this so helpful to use in my own prayer life and in small groups! ⁣
⁣
It's just a small bit of what I'm sharing in my devotional over at Club31Women -- 3 Things to Make This Very Day a Blessing. If you're waking up discouraged, this is for you. ⁣
⁣
Read the whole thing -- link in bio!
We’re never too old for new adventures! 🌤⛰🚗☀️
This week I’m sharing a devotional over @club31w This week I’m sharing a devotional over @club31women about how to transform your day when you wake up discouraged.⁣
⁣
This little prayer is part of my morning routine. We taught it to our kids when they were small and recited it each morning at breakfast. Now my grandchildren use it! ⁣
⁣
Read the whole blog: 3 Things That Will Make This Very Day a Blessing. Link in bio!
Immeasurable Riches ONE WORD: “...so that in Immeasurable Riches 
 
ONE WORD:
“...so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:7
 
ONE THOUGHT:
Father, today I long to dwell on your riches rather than my own wants and needs. Call to mind your riches and help these thoughts of you to be in the forefront of my thinking today.
It’s mid-summer! Have you run out of things to d It’s mid-summer! Have you run out of things to do with your kids?? ☀️

I have FREE downloadable ebook for you - Camp At Home 100 ideas for you to do with your kids or grandkids!

Link in bio!

#cousincamp #cousincampbook
I love this quote from John Stott, from his very l I love this quote from John Stott, from his very last book, The Radical Disciple. I highly recommend it. Brief chapters include: “Nonconformity,” “Simplicity,” “Dependence,” and others.⁣
⁣
Over on the blog, I'm sharing this book along with 8 others I've loved recently. If you're looking for a summer read, I hope you find a good one here!⁣
⁣
Read the whole list: link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
I’ve been thinking a lot about books - check out I’ve been thinking a lot about books - check out my latest blog! 📚😊

Here are two more that I have enjoyed by two of my friends Christy Fitzwater and Penelope Swithinbank. 

Keeping House is an honest, humorous, easy-to-read book about the joy you can get from cleaning by a friend of mine who cleans VRBOs. You will laugh and learn some real practical tips. 

The book, Scent of Water, is a comfort in times of grief. Her daily devotions are honest and she leaves us with specific scriptures of comfort. You will feel closer to God and thankful for his understanding.

Copyright © 2022 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

116Shares
116Shares
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkayPrivacy Policy