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There are moments in life when you meet someone and realize you’re witnessing the fruit of faithful parenting. That was exactly how I felt during my recent conversation with author, poet, and advocate Sydney Ann Johnson.
As Sydney shared stories about growing up, one theme became unmistakably clear: the woman she is today was profoundly shaped by a mother who loved God, nurtured her gifts, and intentionally poured into her children. Long before Sydney became a published author or saw her work featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, she was a little girl whose creativity was encouraged at home. Her mother listened to sermons while taking daily walks, then came back eager to share what God was teaching her with her children. She reminded Sydney to trust God’s timing during seasons of uncertainty and modeled what it looked like to build a life centered on faith.
Today, those seeds continue to bear fruit. Through her writing, Sydney is now encouraging families around the world and pointing children toward their identity in Jesus Christ. It’s a beautiful reminder that we often won’t see the full impact of our parenting until years later, when those quiet, ordinary investments begin blessing generations beyond our own family.
That truth alone made this conversation worth having.
Meet Sydney Ann Johnson
Sydney Ann Johnson is an author, poet, and writer from Long Island, New York, deeply committed to faith, community, and advocacy. Her work spans poetry collections, cultural articles on faith and mental health in the Black community, and a feature in Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now. Her debut children’s book, God, The Great I AM, published by Our Daily Bread, is a beautiful message of identity and belonging in Christ — written to help children from all backgrounds understand their immense value in God’s eyes.
The Lasting Influence of a Mother’s Words
As mothers, we sometimes wonder whether the little things we do every day really matter. We repeat ourselves, help with homework, pray over our children, read bedtime stories, and try our best to point them toward Jesus. It can feel ordinary—sometimes even unnoticed.
But Sydney’s story reminds us that those seemingly small moments become part of a child’s foundation.
One memory she shared particularly stood out to me. After graduating from college, Sydney found herself in a season of depression and uncertainty. Like many young adults, she desperately wanted to understand God’s plan for her life. Her mother gently reminded her that God rarely reveals the entire journey at once. Instead, He gives us enough light for the next step.
If we could see everything ahead, she explained, we would likely become overwhelmed. God’s wisdom is found in leading us one step at a time.
That encouragement stayed with Sydney. Looking back now, she can see how God used even that difficult season to prepare her for opportunities she never could have imagined.
As moms, we often want certainty—not only for ourselves but for our children. We want to know they’re making the right choices and that we’re leading them well. Yet this conversation reminded me that our calling isn’t to have all the answers. It’s to faithfully trust God while teaching our children to do the same.
Helping Children Discover Their Identity
One of the central themes of our conversation was identity.
Sydney’s debut children’s book, God, The Great I AM, was inspired by God’s declaration to Moses in Exodus 3:14: “I AM WHO I AM.” She wanted children to understand not only who God is but also who they are because of Him.
When children understand that they are created by a loving, eternal God, they begin building an identity that isn’t dependent on achievement, appearance, popularity, or comparison. Instead, they learn to anchor their worth in the One who created them.
That foundation becomes increasingly important in today’s world, where children are constantly receiving messages about who they should be.
Our role as parents is to make sure God’s voice is the loudest one they hear.
Why Representation Matters
Another meaningful part of our conversation centered on representation in Christian children’s books.
Sydney shared that one of her motivations for writing was her desire for Black and Brown children to see themselves reflected in faith-based literature. Every child deserves to open a book and recognize that they, too, are wonderfully made in God’s image.
She recounted a touching encounter with a young boy who noticed her natural hair while she was picking up takeout. His father explained that his son simply wanted to tell her he liked her hair. That simple interaction reinforced something Sydney already believed: children notice when they see someone who looks like them.
Representation isn’t about elevating one group over another. It’s about communicating a biblical truth—that every child is intentionally created by God, deeply loved by Him, and has a place in His story.
Christian books have a unique opportunity to reinforce that message, helping children from every background see themselves as valuable members of God’s family.
Finding God in the Ordinary
Although we spent time talking about books and writing, one of my favorite parts of our conversation was the encouragement Sydney offered to mothers who feel overwhelmed.
She remembered watching her own mother intentionally create space to spend time with God. Often, that meant taking a simple walk while listening to biblical teaching. Those quiet moments refreshed her spiritually, and what she learned overflowed naturally into conversations with her children.
That picture resonated with me because motherhood often feels like a constant outpouring. We care for everyone else, solve problems, answer questions, and carry responsibilities that rarely slow down.
But we cannot continually pour from an empty cup.
Like Jesus, who regularly withdrew to spend time with His Father, we also need moments to step away, breathe deeply, and allow God to refill our hearts.
Sometimes that looks like taking a walk. Other times it may simply mean reading one chapter of Scripture before the day begins or spending a few quiet moments in prayer before everyone else wakes up.
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s connection.
Encouragement for the Weary Mom
Toward the end of our conversation, Sydney shared one of her favorite verses: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Those words felt like the perfect conclusion to our discussion.
As mothers, we often carry burdens that no one else sees. We worry about our children’s future, question whether we’re doing enough, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by everything resting on our shoulders.
Yet God never intended for us to carry those burdens alone.
He invites us to bring every fear, every disappointment, every unanswered question, and every hope to Him.
If there’s one takeaway I hope you’ll remember from this conversation, it’s this: the faith you model today may become the legacy your children carry tomorrow.
Sydney Ann Johnson is living proof of that.
Her mother’s quiet faithfulness didn’t just shape one little girl. It helped shape an author who is now encouraging families around the world to know the God who calls Himself the Great I AM.
What an incredible reminder that our ordinary faithfulness can have an extraordinary impact.
So keep praying.
Keep speaking life.
Keep reading God’s Word.
Keep pointing your children to Jesus.
You may never fully realize how far those seeds will grow, but God does—and He is faithful to bring a harvest in His perfect time.
How to Connect with Sydney Ann
Learn more about Sydney Ann’s books and more…
Website: https://sydneyannjohnson.com/
