Tag: family
Spiritual Power Naps for Mom and Dad
January 25, 20121 Comment
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 Be strong. Be brave. Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope. The king of Assyria has a huge army with him. But there’s a greater power with us than there is with him. The only thing he has is human strength. But the Lord our God is with us. He will help us. He’ll fight our battles.The people had great faith in what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.
Are you a parent that feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders these days? Perhaps it’s the economy that has caused a realistic worry about your family’s future. Even though we know that we should not be anxious in anything, we often still really struggle with taking ahold of that truth and then we compound things by worrying that we aren’t being great examples for our kids! Sometimes being a Christian parent feels like wading in a riptide zone – always having to swim against the current.
It can be mentally exhausting swimming against that tide. A little nap sounds wonderful!
When I was working in the medical field, I remember how the doctors who’d be on call 24+ hours would take power naps in order for them to stay on their game. It amazed me that these brief naps would totally rejuvenate them! Research has shown that these little naps are even more beneficial than longer naps because the person does not get into deep sleep, which would then cause grogginess and disorientation upon waking. Instead they fall asleep immediately and are easily awoken, feeling totally refreshed.
There’s a trick to these power naps, though. A person who is efficient at power napping is able to, in a way, “turn off their mind”. For this short span of time, they don’t worry about what needs to be done, what mistakes they have made during their day or what will happen during their absence. They’re able to formulate a personal inner peace that reinforces the belief that all will be well in the world for the few minutes they sleep.
In 2 Chronicles, when King Hezekiah told the people that the Lord was with them and would fight their battles, they RESTED upon his words. His reassurance gave them inner peace enabling them to do this.
Those words are still true and applicable in our own lives today! The Lord is with us, ready to fight our battles! Take refuge and rest in that knowledge! Lay down those heavy burdens and trust that He is there helping you.
If the mistakes of your past haunt you; if the future frightens you; or if you’re exhausted because you’re trying to be the super-glue that holds everyone in your family together in an unraveling world … rest on the the faithfulness of the Lord. He is with you. He will fight your battles.
Practice the idea of taking a spiritual power nap. Let go for a few minutes, knowing that your Father has it under control. Empty your mind and rest, as He renews your Spirit.
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
Family Resolutions Series: Getting Spiritually Fit in 2012
January 19, 20123 CommentsWe’ve spent the last couple weeks discussing our New Year’s resolutions. So far our concentration has been on making changes that will improve our physical bodies. This is because most of us focus our attention, especially during the first few months of the year, on losing weight and getting into shape.
But what about our spiritual selves? What changes can we make during the next twelve months that will help us get spiritually fit?
As I pondered this question, I knew I had to enlist the help of one of my best girlfriends, Kathy Lonsinger. Kathy has helped many people, worldwide, find comfort and direction in Jesus through her online ministry, A Gentle Answer. I came to Kathy asking her to write down her thoughts about helping our families get spiritually fit in the new year.
According to Kathy, “Every resolution or exercise program begins by evaluating your current condition. We usually determine we need to stop or start certain habits or behaviors such as STOP smoking, drinking, overeating, or overspending; or START exercising or saving money in order to reach our goals. If, as Christian families, we are going to begin 2012 trying to get spiritually fit we must examine our condition.
Does your family spend time in prayer?
Does your family worship with a body of believers?
Does your family seek first the kingdom of God so all “these” things will be added … health, financial, spiritual fitness?
Do you need to stop or start behaviors that are keeping you from being spiritually fit?
In order to answer some of these questions we don’t need a trainer that will yell at you loudly to motivate you, we simply need go back to the basics. We must obey the regimen already spelled out in scripture for a healthy Christian family.
The plan of salvation must be first.
His word tells us to:
SUIT UP
In the same way you put on your workout clothes to go to the gym, you must dress accordingly to tackle your spiritual fitness program.
The Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-11
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
DEEP KNEE BENDS
Seeking advice from the experts and your doctor are always recommended when you begin and maintain your physical exercise program. By praying as a family you are seeking the counsel of God and presenting yourself for close examination in order to pinpoint areas of weakness. Children who see their parents exercise tend to exercise. Likewise, children who have the example of a prayer filled life tend to pray. Bend the knee, repeat often.
Pray in the Spirit on All Occasions: Ephesians 6:18
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
STRETCH
Stretching is for the purpose of preparing your body for the actual exercise. As Christians, we must stretch our knowledge of the Word of God. Add scripture memory and Bible Study to your family routine. Some great places to start:
1. As a family, read through Proverbs taking one chapter a day for a month. Highlight and memorize some of the verses together helping the younger children and keeping the length age appropriate.
2. Consider reading the words spoken by Jesus (using a Red Letter edition of the Bible) together as a family to find out what He actually says in scripture. If He tells you to do something…just do it! (Sorry Nike)
3. Don’t forget your “BE” Vitamins. Take a look at the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.
4. Read Ephesians 5 and reflect on the verses outlining each family member’s instruction in the Bible… Wives/Husbands/Fathers-Mothers/Children.
WALK
Doctors always say to simply start walking to increase your fitness level. In order to begin our walk with Jesus we must walk as He walked. (1 Corinthians 11:1) As you continue imitating Christ, your children will be imitators of you. Imitate Christ, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. (Ephesians 5:1)
PRESS ON
Okay so you blew it in 2011! So what! Now…Press on toward what is ahead; the goal. Don’t you love the fact that we are allowed to start over? Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
REST
Our muscles need to rest in between workouts in order to repair, restore, and strengthen. We must also enter into HIS rest in order to repair, restore, and strengthen. In the Old Testament we are told to keep the Sabbath. Rest is necessary. In the New Testament we are invited to enter in to the rest, our Sabbath is the Lord. Rest in Him. Go to Hebrews 4 to read more on this.
As with any fitness program, you will have days when you fall off. Get back up and keep going!!!
On your mark…get set…GO!!!”
Kathy Lonsinger is a Christian, wife, mother of four, student of the bible, and the founder of A Gentle Answer Ministries. She is the editor and one of the writers for the ministry’s online magazine which features stories of hope, Christian media and entertainment, and family resources for parents and grandparents. Kathy has her own blog that reaches readers from Australia to Austin. She has been featured on National Christian Radio’s “The Parent’s Plate” and Our Daily Journal daily devotional. You can follow her on twitter.
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
What the Nativity Means to Us
December 20, 20111 CommentAs in most Christian homes, our family has a lovely Nativity which is proudly displayed in our living room throughout the Christmas season. Each year I unwrap the delicate porcelain pieces and place each figurine in their perspective staged place within the manger. It looks picture-perfect.
Many years ago we bought our oldest, and at that time our only, son a play-set Nativity. At some point it was passed on to his younger brother, who still enjoys playing with it. Over the years many of the original pieces have gone missing; it’s no longer what most would call “beautiful” or even remotely “complete”. But instead of worrying over aesthetics, like an adult might, he simply has replaced the missing players with other, somewhat interesting stand-ins. For instance, I’m pretty sure we’re the only family on our block that has Power Ranger shepherds and a LEGO Princess Leia Mary!
Reading about Jesus’ birth in Luke, it’s interesting that out of every possible powerful or influential person in Bethlehem that evening, the Lord chose a group of humble shepherds as the only invited guests to the birth of the Savior of the world. Angels came down from Heaven and announced His birth to these simple working class men! The newly born King was surrounded by individuals who had nothing of material value to give Him, because instead they were the ones who received the greatest gift of all, His Grace.
Isn’t that just like our Lord?
While my son’s Nativity lacks the Renaissance-like beauty that my porcelain Nativity might have, I think his might be a better interpretation of what the Nativity represents. Okay, I’m pretty sure Princess Leia wasn’t there, but the people standing around Baby Jesus were far from picture perfect. They were probably a miss-matched set of players with one thing in common… they were broken and in need of this Savior.
Just like those humble shepherds, we all have been invited to the manger. Each Christmas we are reminded that Jesus doesn’t expect us to arrive at His side, puffed up with our own importance or self righteousness. Instead He desires for us to come to His cradle, humbly, like the shepherds–with all our imperfections. He is OUR GIFT, from the Father.
Lisa Strnad is a contributing writer/blogger to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
Buck’s Bible Roundup: Dec. 2, 2011
December 2, 2011CommentLook to Buck’s Bible Roundup for the best blogs, articles, and resources from the week to help you effectively teach the Word of God in your homes and in your ministry.
Today’s Roundup:
1. Six Free Printables for Advent (Money Saving Mom)
It’s not to late to celebrate advent with your family. Try one of these six free printables.
2. Christmas Traditions (Faithful Provisions)
A list of great traditions your family can embrace and use to keep the Christmas focus on Jesus.
3. “Story of David” Coloring Page (Ministry-to-Children)
Download this free coloring page about David.
4. Alone with God (The Better Mom)
How important is time alone with God for moms?
5. Five Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy Your Holiday Stories (Simple Mom)
Great ideas to make Christmas more meaningful for your family.
Thanks for reading!
Being Thankful…
November 16, 20113 CommentsThere, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you (Deuteronomy 12:7).
Over three hundred years ago, our forefathers gathered together in this new land and gave thanks to God for the blessings which He bestowed on them during the year. With the many daily challenges they faced in this untamed land they still chose to set aside a day in order to give thanks.
I hope that this coming week enables each of us an opportunity to sit with our children and discuss the personal blessings which God has given to our families this past year. It’s a great opportunity to talk with our kids about why we celebrate Thanksgiving, its history and to also discuss our own family traditions. It’s also a good time to remind them that Thanksgiving is so much more than some commercial holiday when we eat turkey, watch football and rest up before getting up super early on Black Friday—the biggest sale day of the year! Yes, it’s much more than that…
Family traditions make the holidays so special. They personalize these wonderful celebrations! Like most ethnically blended families, many of our traditions seem to come in the way of the food we prepare; the chorizo and corn bread stuffing, the rigatoni and meatballs, the hate-it or love-it green bean casserole and my mom’s homemade pumpkin pies—which no one has been able to successfully copy over the years. But I think what I love the most about Thanksgiving is the prayer before we eat. My dad would always find a piece of Scripture which he felt would bless our family for personal reasons. Maybe someone had lost their job, or someone was expecting a new baby, or perhaps the passing of a loved one during the course of the year was still a raw pain in our hearts. He always chose the right Scripture that gave us Hope, peace and remind us that God was there… and above all, that we were to be thankful for His many blessings. We haven’t done a great job of this since dad passed away two years ago. Maybe this year would be a good time to honor his tradition. What traditions do you have as a family?
This summer my family took our vacation in New York City. As we rode out to Liberty Island, I imagined myself as one of the many refugees who sacrificed everything in order to come to this great country, hoping to work towards a better life; willing to do whatever it took to give their family a chance to taste freedom in America. Can you imagine seeing Lady Liberty for the first time, after weeks at sea? Now, imagine reading these words:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
~ Emma Lazarus
Happy Thanksgiving! May God’s abundant blessings in your lives, this coming year, be a reminder to you and a testimony to all of His mercies and grace.
Lisa Strnad is a contributing writer/blogger to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works indepently in Christian media in the areas of writing, PR and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
How to Talk to Our Kids About Being Bullied
October 26, 20111 CommentSome people may think that bullying is just a part of growing up. There’s always going to be that mean kid who torments those of us who are different in some way. But the truth is that no one should have to suffer through bullying. Our kids need to know that they can come to us if they are feeling threatened and that we will do something about it.
I write this blog as a mom, not a medical expert, but I believe that talking with our kids is a vital first step in considering how we are going to handle their very personal questions and emotions. Even if our own kids aren’t the bully’s target, they may have heard or witnessed things that make them fearful. Begin by listening to your child. Let him/ her tell their story. Remember that there will probably be emotional pain about the way they or a friend is being treated. Their feelings, fears and emotions need to be validated.
To be effective advocates, parents need to react to the knowledge that their child is a bully’s target in a way that encourages the child to trust them. Projecting displaced anger or throwing out negative judgmental comments will only make them feel more isolated. Asking them why they didn’t stand up to the bully might stop any communication in its tracks! Believe them and support them. Tell them that it is not their fault and that they do not deserve to be bullied. Empower the child by reminding them how special he/ she is, Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Be patient, because children may not be ready to open up to you right away. Talking about the bullying may be very difficult. There could be fear about retaliation from the bully. The child might be feeling insecure, withdrawn, frightened or ashamed. Give them the time they need to share what’s going on.
Parents can educate their child about bullying by providing information at a level that the child can understand. A good site that may be a useful resource is www.stopbullying.gov This site has some good information that can be shared with kids! Parents can also talk to their kids about workable options in dealing with bullying behavior.
For parents who have younger kids or kids with special needs and who suspect that there might be a bullying issue going on, here are some questions that might get conversation started:
· How was the bus ride today?
· Who did you sit next to today at lunch?
· I notice that you seem to be feeling sick a lot and wanting to stay home. Please tell me about that.
· Are kids making fun of you?
· Has anyone touched you in a way that did not feel right?
· Did the child hurt you on purpose?
· Was it done more than once?
· Did they make you feel bad or angry?
· Is the other child (more powerful, bigger, scarier…) than you in some way?
(Adapted from “Your Child: Bully or Victim”, Peter Sheras, Ph.D., 2002)
For older kids, talking about recent events in the news or bullying incidents on TV or in a movie might help lead them into discussion about how they are feeling.
The first step in understanding the emotional, physical or psychological effects bullying is having on our kids is starting a conversation with them and listening to them. All the while reassuring them how much we love and value them as individuals. Praying with them daily will also help empower them with the knowledge that God loves them completely and perfectly as they are– and how very important they are to Him. Everyday, when I drop my kids off at school, I pray for angelic protection to be like a hedge around them. Prayer is an essential part of our role as parents, and knowing that God’s abundant grace is ever-present fills me and my children with the biggest sense of peace.
How do you deal with bullying? Have you had conversations with your children about it? Please share.
Lisa Strnad is a contributing blogger to Whats in the Bible? and JellyTelly several times a month. She is a home schooling mom who works in christian media in the areas of writing, marketing and PR. Follow her on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com
The Importance of Prayer
September 27, 20111 CommentHave you ever argued with God? It’s sort of a futile situation, but one in which I find myself caught many times. Hmmm…what’s that definition of insanity again?….
Seriously, last week I was caught in this prayer cycle, asking for the Lord’s clarity and discernment on a troubling situation I was facing. Towards the middle of the week I was getting pretty clear answers from God, which weren’t exactly the answers that I had hoped for. So I did what any child does; I argued with my Father. I emotionally spun out of control, much like a gyroscope.
During this internal struggle between choosing to do what God had placed on my heart and continuing to do what I wanted , I began wondering about praying and the importance we Christ-followers place on it. I’d like to say that I’m always in align with God’s Word, but I’m not. Truthfully, I began thinking maybe if I had just given myself more time to think about the situation…maybe I knew all along what to do. I mean, should we really pray about every little thing?
Perhaps one of our most common errors in situations is to assume that we know the right answer even before praying about it. Another pretty common error is to disregard the answer God gives to us AFTER we pray about it.
The great thing is that we don’t have to beg the Lord to speak to us or to hear us. God is our loving Father who has already spoken through the Word, who continues to guide us by the Spirit, and who eagerly listens for the voices of his children. We are to approach the Lord knowing that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to fulfill the prayers of his children, voiced in accord with his will. Luke 11:9-10 – So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Praying is really a conversation. Conversation is talking and listening. In fact when the conversation is with our Lord, it is best to begin by listening! Finding the time to pray is sometimes tricky enough. But finding the time to be still and silent… that’s really tough! But really necessary. Silence allows us to listen to the voice of God. But as many of us have witnessed first-hand, what sometimes happens is that the Enemy whispers into our ear, “You can see clearly which is the correct path here . . . no need to bother the Lord with this one”…
Proverbs 2: “My son,if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”
When the need for continuous prayer confuses me, I go straight to the parable that Jesus taught on this very subject. It’s a clear lesson that we can share with our own children which will explain why we pray and it validates that God our Father does listen to each and every one of us…no matter what our age, our Biblical knowledge, or even our lack of momentary discernment. These are the words of Jesus; “Does any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give his son a snake? No! You would give him a fish. Or, if your son asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? No! {You are like all other people}–you are evil. But you know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those people that ask him.” Luke 11:11-13
How important is prayer in your life? How do you teach your children about the importance of prayer?
How I’m Honoring My Mom (And How to Teach Kids to Honor Their Parents)
September 14, 2011CommentNo inter-human relationship is more basic than that between parent and child. God thought the child /parent relationship important enough to make the fifth Commandment all about honoring that relationship, and then promises a blessing to those who follow this part of the Law. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NRSV)
We expect our children to respect us when they’re young; they’re taught that lesson from early on. But what happens as our parents age? Their needs will change as their very world and all that’s in it changes around them.
When my dad passed away two years ago, leaving behind my mother, my husband and I realized that our roles as children would also have to change as she aged. She had lost her partner of over 40 years, so a huge sense of stability in her life was now missing. My dad, even at his weakest, was her fierce protector. She felt a sense of safety with him around. She was now afraid of being alone. Her anxiety increased as her physical agility decreased. She needed to feel valued again, but knew her physical limitations would limit what she was able to accomplish. Life for mom had changed, drastically. And she was trying to come to terms with it.
Last year we asked her to come live with us on a full time basis. We assured her it would be a blessing for us to have her live in our home and be a part of our family. While it was obvious to her why she might be blessed by his arrangement, she was unsure how her living with our family would end up blessing us. In the months that have followed, I can tell you that we have all loved having mom here with us. She has truly been a huge blessing to our family.
The excitement that my kids felt moving across country was heightened knowing that grandma was moving with us. We are now a family of 5. She has added to their education about life. Her perspective, while a couple generations removed, is still so relevant and she’s knowledgeable. She has lived through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the civil rights movement, the Cold War, the assassinations of JFK, RFK, Martin Luther King, Jr., The Beatles, the Moon landing and black and white TV. She has seen the world change drastically in her 70+ years, and while the changes were not always good ones, she has taught my children that we can always make a difference in the world for Jesus – a lesson she taught me a few decades ago.
Loving our parents is sometimes different than honoring them. I can love someone in silence or from a distance. But to honor someone, I must open myself up to them. I must let go of pride and ego, and give them the space they need to brightly shine and be that light that God (still) intends them to be, for His glory. Honoring my mom means that I value her, I cherish her and I acknowledge her worth in as many ways as I possibly can.
Looking at my boys, I hope this life lesson is one that they have taken to heart. I think it is. I think that they see how important a place their grandma has in our home; not taking away from anyone else’s place…but adding to our whole family.
As adults, how do you choose to honor your parents? How do your kids see you living this Commandment?
God’s Healing Remedy for Emotional Hoarding
August 23, 20111 CommentA&E’s show, “Hoarders”, is one of those TV shows that literally draws me in. The psychology behind this obsession intrigues the medical part of my mind. As I was watching this show the other night, I started making the connection between hoarding earthly possessions and hoarding emotional heartbreaks. It made me wonder why we tend to hold on to some of the most painful hurts in our hearts?
Are you a heartbreak hoarder? Do you keep those personal hurts safely hidden away? Sometimes heartbreak is something so hard to let go of, we tend to bury it somewhere deep; a place inside of ourselves that only we can access.
I took inventory in my spiritual storehouse and found that I have indeed been holding on to old hurts. I find that when we bury these unhealed heartbreaks, grudges that blend harmoniously with anger, guilt and resentment tend to grow in their place. This is definitely not the lesson I want to teach my children!
Ephesians 4:31 tell us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
There’s the whole issue of forgiving others. And in some ways I think many of us have done a great job in being able to forgive the wrongs done to us by others. At least we know that we should forgive others who have sinned against us. Even kids know that they are supposed to forgive those who sin against them. But not all heartbreak is based on something which was done TO us. Sometimes heartbreak comes in the form of a sin WE have committed. A sin which, to us, may seem so large we have been unable to forgive ourselves. I think we call that, “guilt”.
Guilt operates because God has placed within us a conscience. The Apostle Paul said, it is built-in and it “bears witness with our thoughts, alternating and either accusing or excusing” our actions. Rom 2:14-15.
When we are born, we are programmed to sort out right and wrong. When that conscience kicks in, our memory bank sorts through our failure, and like a computer virus, it re-surfaces and torments our emotions. And if we do not have a forgiving covenant relationship with Christ, it can grind away on us until we feel as guilty as we did when we committed the original deed. Thus, it runs in an endless cycle of forgiveness, despair, comfort, and emotional madness.
What a vital concept it is to teach our kids that we are forgiven through Christ–no matter what! How do we know that? Because God’s Word says so — “therefore if we have been buried and resurrected with Him in baptism – our “old body of sin (or body of death) will be done away with, that we no longer SHOULD be slaves to sin”. Rom 6:6
Many hoarders feel that the moment they discard the items that they are holding onto, they will lose a piece of themselves in the process. We Christians who struggle with holding on to emotional heartbreaks can rest assured that through grace, we have been made new creatures! We have nothing to lose other than guilt, anger, resentment and regret itself! Jesus sets us free. Let go of that pain. Forgive yourself…because God has already forgiven you!
Letting Go…
August 17, 20112 CommentsToday I wanted to discuss a very important aspect of parenting: the letting go of our children. We prepare for this throughout their lives; there’s the first time we leave them in the church nursery, the first day of school and even those play dates at trusted friends’ houses. It’s difficult to let go of our little ones, even if we’re only taking baby steps. We know they are safe and well protected in our care. But the world can be a big, scary place. How do we prepare them to enter into it?
Letting go; we see this very normal progression in most of God’s creation. One of the examples that comes to mind is the majestic eagle. When it’s time for the baby eagles to learn to fly, then the mother or the father eagle will actually stir up the nest and shove those babies right out. If the nest is right on a cliff, there may be thousands of feet below them! The parents will fly down and spread their wings so that if the baby is not flying very well, they can bear him up on their wings and then when he is ready, they let him go again. This happens again and again until that baby bird is soaring on his own.
This week is my 13-year-old’s first time away from home. He’s with his school on a retreat /camping trip up in the mountains of Tennessee. My son has done the Boys Scout camping trips, but my husband was always there with the group. So this is his first time he’s away from home, on his own (ok–with several school counselors present of course–but still). As he stood with the group of seventh and eighth graders before boarding those buses, he was trying his best to give me the signal that he was and would be “ok”. He was ready to fly–or at least give it a try. I’m sure he was a little nervous. He’s the new kid and he’s in a new place, but this is his time to soar.
I know the Lord does not give me the spirit of fear or anxiety, but those emotions are at the forefront of my mind today. As his teenage years have officially started, I know that the decision to continue following the Lord’s plan for his life will become my son’s choice. Have my husband and I prepared him well enough to make good decisions? I believe we have. But the enemy desires to steal our joy and our peace every chance he gets! God’s Word is our constant reminder: Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When we are faced with the letting go of our kids, in whatever small ways life presents us these challenges, it’s good to remember that God has given us these children to “bring up in His ways”, and then also remember instead of worrying NOW it the time to pray for that hedge of protection around them. I love that we parents can be honest with God, and that He will meet us where we are. Prayer is such a wonderful way to relinquish our fear, become obedient to the Lord, and then receive His peace and hope! Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid I will put my trust in you.”
We can’t avoid the inevitable. The day is coming when our little ones will be old enough to leave the safety of our nest full time. It will be their time to not only fly, but to hopefully soar… and it will be up to them to make important choices which we have spent a good part of their lives teaching them about. Keeping our children grounded in God’s Word, and applying that knowledge in our daily lives will make all the difference in their future! I can humbly tell you that the peace I have found in turning to God’s Word during my moments of fear and anxiety this week have gotten me through a very difficult personal time. Letting go is hard. I’m glad that I’m only still in the beginning stages of learning this lesson. And yes… I’m already looking forward to seeing my son’s sweet face on Friday!
I’d love to hear your personal stories of letting go. Whether you’re still in the process of learning how, like me…or if you’ve experienced it to a larger degree. Share your knowledge, struggles and successes with us!
