By Kayla DeKraker
Raising a daughter isn’t for the faint of heart, and pro surfer Bethany Hamilton wants her youngest, daughter Alaya, 2, to know her value and place in the world.
“I still trip out that I have a daughter, and she has been such a joy to share life with!” Hamilton began a recent Instagram post. “As my husband and I raise her and think about the world we live in — young women have so much they’re going up against…”
As Alaya grows up, Hamilton will encourage her in a few different ways.
- “To know that God’s faithfulness is a sure thing! She can know God and trust Him along the way with everything!”
- “To be aware of the hypersexuality that is placed on women, to not objectify herself for love or acceptance, and to value her worth beyond her beauty”
- To be teachable along the way. To know she can look to mom and dad for help, mentors, older women, and just continue to learn and grow!”
Related: Bethany Hamilton Cherishes Motherhood: ‘What a Gift’
“At the end of the day, my greatest hope is that she grows into a woman who knows her worth, walks in faith, and shines God’s love in all she does,” the surfer and mom of four concluded.
People in the comment section agreed with Hamilton’s goals.
“I love this, I have a daughter and can’t wait to teach her the same❤️” one mom said,
Another person added, “This is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing your hopes, faith and prayers for you your daughter that inspired others as well. God bless you and your family ❤️”
Hamilton frequently reflects on the importance of God and family.
“Family is God’s greatest gift, and the older I get, the more I see just how true that is. 💛,” she wrote in another post. “Life moves fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos, but the quiet moments with family, the laughter, the hugs, the shared sunsets, these are the moments that truly matter.”
Hamilton skyrocketed to prominence when she was 13 after a shark attack left her without one of her arms. She refused to let the attack define her, though, and has since used her platform to encourage others.
“This was not the plan I had for my life,” she told Liberty University students earlier this year. “There’s likely going to be things in your life that aren’t a part of your plan. So how can we turn this chaos and overwhelm into peace? How can we face adversity with resilience? How can we adapt when life gets crazy and super hard?”
She added, “One thing that can be bring peace amongst all the chaos is knowing God’s grace, His forgiveness, His peace, His love. That is what will change you to face the adversity with a whole new level of appreciation.”
Hamilton’s life truly exemplifies Romans 5:3-4 — “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” — and she’s certain to pass that mindset along to her kids.
Read Next: Bethany Hamilton Keeps Trusting God’s Plan 21 Years After Shark Attack
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