So…I had one of THOSE days. One of those “Jesus please come back today so we can be DONE here” days. It’s funny, really…because it started off pretty great, actually. I even got to have a discussion with one of my fav people about God. It went kinda like this: “Why is it SO hard to put our heads around the fact that we have a God who is always present (omnipresent)? And yet He will sit back at times and let things play out w/o getting involved…sometimes really really awful things play out while He…watches.” Great Q. Hard to understand some of those big truths.
Immediately I started thinking about that same Q from my perspective – as a parent. SO many times I can think of those times when I’ve purposefully sat back and let circumstances unravel while my kid suffers thru it…sometimes because of a choice he/she made and sometimes bc they need to “feel their way” and I need to step back and not fix it.
Consequences are hard. Watching consequences engulf our kids is almost unbearable.
Today an issue crept in at around 3p. An issue that I wasn’t sure WHY it was happening…but I was certain it was NOT going to be a fun, relaxing night of watching American Idol w/the fam. It’s one of THOSE nights. I have to let my kiddo suffer…facing a painful situation. It hurts my soul to let my kid walk thru a hard place…every fiber in my being wants to rescue that kid RIGHT NOW. All that kid wants is for me to make it all go away and say “its OK”.
And so, I have to stand by and let the hurt happen. I have NOT withdrawn my love…in fact, I think I feel like I love my kiddo more than ever right now…because deep down inside my (sick w/worry) heart, I KNOW the results on the other side of this will create something wonderful. I ache as I hear sniffles in the other room – but I know I have to just hold on long enough for God to teach thru it. I have not left my sweet kid…my love has not changed…and I’m just in the other room…even if it feels like I’m 100 miles away.
Parenting is hard.
Sometimes I think God probably says the same thing when He watches us hurt/suffer.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmm. Loved reading your thoughts here this morning, Kris. Parenting IS hard. That being said, I’m so glad I am only a parent, and not God!
That would be way harder.
Great insight about parenting…it never ends but when the roots go down deep because of the foundation that you have sought to build through God’s direction, those ‘wings’ will grow beautifully and continually so they can take flight successfully. I am grateful to read the hope, dedication and focus on Him who can direct us through these days as no one and nothing else can. It is encouraging to me to read how you young moms reach out to one another, heart to heart…step by challenging step…moving forward with God’s direction….as a grandparent, I pray with thankfulness and Godly expectation!
XOXOXOX
NS