This morning, as I tuned in to K-Love, a discussion about the unique blessings and gifts of discernment that mothers have toward their children truly resonated with me. The bond between a mother and her child is one of the most profound and influential relationships in life. Mothers often have an uncanny ability to sense which friendships are best for their children within moments of meeting them. They also seem to possess a sixth sense, instinctively knowing when their child needs them the most. This conversation brought to mind three powerful moments that illustrate the depth of a mother’s intuition, each involving my daughter, Marnaa.
I share these experiences as a reminder of how often this unspoken connection plays a role in our lives and to celebrate the extraordinary bond between a mother and her child.
The first incident took place when Marnaa was 17 years old, working as an overnight caregiver at a nursing home and assisted living facility. One night, I suddenly woke up in the middle of my sleep. Unable to drift back to sleep, I reached for my phone and began scrolling through social media when, unexpectedly, I saw my daughter’s name appear on the screen: “Baby Girl.” My heart immediately tightened with worry as I answered, “What’s wrong?”
In a shaken voice, she replied, “Mom, my patient died.”
Confused and concerned, I pressed for details. She explained that she had taken her patient to the bathroom, and he had suddenly collapsed. It was her first time experiencing death so closely, one moment, he was walking with her, alive and alert, and the next, he was gone. My heart ached for her. I knew I had to be calm and reassuring. Gently, I explained that this was a common occurrence in medicine called a vagal response, and it wasn’t her fault. I told her to call for help and stayed on the phone with her until the nursing staff arrived.
At that moment, I knew God had woken me up for a reason. My daughter needed her mother, a nurse who had been through similar situations, to guide and comfort her through one of the most difficult moments of her young career. It was a powerful reminder of the essential role mothers play in supporting their children through life’s challenges, and I felt profoundly grateful to be there for her.
The second experience happened in 2023 while I was on a UNFPA mission in Juba, South Sudan. I had been away for several months, and Marnaa was studying Nursing at a University in North.
One afternoon(night for me but daytime in North Carolina), Marnaa had gone out to play volleyball with her friends. Just as I was settling back to bed after using the restroom, I felt an urge to check the time. I reached for my phone, and just then, it rang, it was Marnaa. I answered immediately, already feeling a sense of worry. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Through tears, she said, “Mom, I fell, and I can’t get up.”
I asked her to describe what happened, and she explained that she had jumped to hit the ball, landed wrong, and now her foot was swollen and in pain. I asked her to send me a picture, and when I saw it, my heart dropped. I knew it was serious.
I asked if any of her friends could drive her to the nearest ER. She passed the phone to a teammate, and I asked him to take her immediately. He agreed.
Marnaa ended up coming back home to Texas, had surgery, placed in a cast, and had to take a year off from school. The emotional rollercoaster I went through during that phone call; from panic to relief to deep concern was overwhelming. But once again, a mother’s intuition had guided me to be there when my daughter needed me the most, even from across the world.
The third moment happened just a few months ago. Marnaa had been busy studying for her OB final exams, and I hadn’t spoken to her in a week. I missed my baby and felt the urge to hear her voice, so I picked up my phone and called her.
She answered with excitement, “Mom! Everyone is calling their parents about their grades, and I was just about to call you, I got a 98% on my OB exam!”
My heart swelled with pride and joy. I could hear the happiness in her voice, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. It was one of the best moments of my life, not just because she had done exceptionally well on her exam but because, at that exact moment, we had been thinking about each other.
Typing this now, I find myself in tears. A mother’s intuition isn’t just about sensing danger or hardship, it’s also about being present in the moments of joy, celebration, and connection. That call reminded me that the bond between a mother and her child is powerful beyond words, guiding us to each other at exactly the right time.
These experiences are just a few examples of the extraordinary, unseen connection mothers share with their children. If you’ve ever felt a sudden urge to check on your child, trust that feeling because sometimes, that’s exactly when they need you most.
#IAmNyaTongyik

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