Monday, May 16, 2016

When They Have a Mind of Their Own

Parenting was a heck of a lot easier and less stressful before my kids developed their own minds. Maybe not less stressful  but stressful in a different way. Will the baby choke on that cookie? Is he warm enough? Why won't he stop crying!   versus Why is my kid hiding in his room? Should I let her go to the dance with that boy? I really don't want him to drive my car, what if he wrecks it and gets hurt?

Worries are worried, no matter the age. And I didn't even include the worries and fears when kids leave home and start making their own way through life. That's when you really question your parenting skills and spend countless hours reviewing all the times you were too easy or now see that decision you made wasn't a good one. Hindsight: always there when you don't want to hear it, right? 

I gotta be real here: I'm not really enjoying this parenting thing right now. It's hard and it hurts and I don't wanna anymore. 

But I will and as my mother always told me when the baby wouldn't stop crying or threw tantrums, This too will pass. 

I did the best I knew how and now the little babies God entrusted me with are venturing out into the world and making their own decisions. 

Two out and three to go. I figure by the time the last one is grown I'll have figured out this parenting thing.

But probably not.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

The Robin Sings Anyway

Complaining. We all do it, especially about the weather. "It's too cold/hot/rainy/whatever." Like the Israelites   wandering in the desert, we are never happy. Nothing is ever good enough. 

I'm as guilty as the next person. I actually complain about the weather a lot--I don't like to be cold and warm weather has been proving to be elusive this year which is as it always is up hear near Lake Michigan. 

That is wrong. I've asked forgiveness for that and have purposed in my heart not to complain about the weather any more. After all, look what Christ did for me and here I am miffed that it's cold and rainy. Pretty lame and petty and whatever else you want to call it. 

It's easy to fall into the habit of complaining--it starts with the weather and grows from there. It's a habit and a bad one.  

I saw a robin today, hopping around looking for food for its young. Even when the sun doesn't shine, the robin still sings. 

I need to be like that.