Tell me something about yourself.
My name is Delsey Garner. I am married to a pastor and we have a teenage son. I was born and raised in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. I finished my BS in Psychology from West Negros College, now known as STI- West Negros University. I completed a few masters level classes in guidance and counseling while I was working as a college guidance counselor at my college. I spent several years teaching at various grade levels, including pre-school, kindergarten and 3rd grade. I have been assisting my husband in ministry for the last 20 years, first was in Saipan, then in the U.S. and now in the Philippines.
You lived in the U.S. for quite some time, why did you come back to the Philippines?
Living in the United States would be considered a dream for a lot of Filipinos. I came back because my husband and I believe that God has called us to be here. My husband is now the director of Asia Pacific Media, Philippine office. Upon learning what Moms magazine is all about, I was moved to become a part of the editorial team. I am convinced that the magazine can help Filipino mothers by giving practical life lessons and encouragement through the articles they publish.
I’m sure it was hard to leave your son to answer God’s call. How did you prepare for this?
The hardest thing about answering this call was that we had to leave our son in the U.S. while he attended college, but God spoke to me through John 3:16. He gave up His one and only Son for me and because of that I feel I can give my son to Him. The greatest comfort is knowing that He loves our son more than we do.
To prepare our son, we talked to him as much as we could about what God was laying on our hearts and asked him to help us pray for His direction. We were greatly encouraged when our son said,“ I am excited for you guys.”
How did you help establish your son’s faith in God?
First of all, we do our best to model our faith and obedience to God in front of our son. We take every opportunity to teach him about God. When we needed help or felt discouraged, we would pray and invite him to pray with us. We quickly express our thanks to God when we receive a blessing or an answer to prayer. We try to demonstrate what it means to be dependent on God.
What message can you give to mothers who are facing challenges in raising their kids?
God is generous in giving us wisdom when we ask for it. Everyday my husband and I pray for wisdom in our marriage, ministry and in raising our son. Being consistent is the key. If you haven’t established any standard in your home yet, start with ones that are simple and achievable and consistently apply them in your home. Praise your children more than you scold. Affirm their good conduct and they will know that you noticed and appreciate them. This will provide motivation for them to seek your attention through good behavior rather than by acting up. This will lead to more consistent obedience.
If you are a wife and have children, your relationship with your husband is a bigger priority than your children. Raising your children will be easier if you and your spouse have a healthy relationship.
