Sounds strange, doesn't it? But I don't know of anyone who had a child, raised it, and ultimately had ... a giant child.
Think about that for a moment before you read on. (Do not insert any sentences here that begin with "But my husband sometimes acts like..." I know he does. It's one of the things you love about him. Usually.)
As parents, we're not raising children, we're raising children to become adults. So, in effect, we're raising adults.
It's easy to lose sight of the big picture when we're caught up in the here and now of child rearing. Sometimes we have days where the only future we're looking forward to is... bedtime; those are usually on days they have had too much sugar or are very excited about something. This is often in direct connection to Grandma's house. But still...
We tend to forget that the young life entrusted to us is going to some day be a person out in the world on her own. Ultimately, this young person is going to be a reflection on you. On your ideals. Your goals. Your training. (Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turnt from it.)
Well, if that isn't enough to make you want to have only one child... and yet we had four. Four of the most beautiful, lovely young women you would ever want to meet. Talented. Gifted. And all out of the proverbial nest.
As I look at my daughters, as I frequently do, I see four young women who are each traveling their own journey. No two are alike. They don't dress alike or talk alike. No two chose the same career path. And yet all four have amazing similarities. They all are totally dependent on God and His leading for their lives. They all know that whether or not God answers their prayers the way they want Him to, He is still answering their prayers.
I try not to say "I would...." when it comes to their lives. I had my chance. And I made mistakes. Lots of them. It's tempting to tell them what to do in certain situations and sometimes I really have to bite my tongue to keep from sharing what all these years of learning experiences have taught me. Then sometimes I can't help myself and .... there it is. "You should do...."
They have to make their own path. Make their own mistakes. Celebrate their own victories. Now I will stand by either praying for them or cheering with them. Because my years of raising adults are over. My days of having four wonderful, loving and beautiful friends is here.
Think about that for a moment before you read on. (Do not insert any sentences here that begin with "But my husband sometimes acts like..." I know he does. It's one of the things you love about him. Usually.)
As parents, we're not raising children, we're raising children to become adults. So, in effect, we're raising adults.
It's easy to lose sight of the big picture when we're caught up in the here and now of child rearing. Sometimes we have days where the only future we're looking forward to is... bedtime; those are usually on days they have had too much sugar or are very excited about something. This is often in direct connection to Grandma's house. But still...
We tend to forget that the young life entrusted to us is going to some day be a person out in the world on her own. Ultimately, this young person is going to be a reflection on you. On your ideals. Your goals. Your training. (Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turnt from it.)
Well, if that isn't enough to make you want to have only one child... and yet we had four. Four of the most beautiful, lovely young women you would ever want to meet. Talented. Gifted. And all out of the proverbial nest.
As I look at my daughters, as I frequently do, I see four young women who are each traveling their own journey. No two are alike. They don't dress alike or talk alike. No two chose the same career path. And yet all four have amazing similarities. They all are totally dependent on God and His leading for their lives. They all know that whether or not God answers their prayers the way they want Him to, He is still answering their prayers.
I try not to say "I would...." when it comes to their lives. I had my chance. And I made mistakes. Lots of them. It's tempting to tell them what to do in certain situations and sometimes I really have to bite my tongue to keep from sharing what all these years of learning experiences have taught me. Then sometimes I can't help myself and .... there it is. "You should do...."
They have to make their own path. Make their own mistakes. Celebrate their own victories. Now I will stand by either praying for them or cheering with them. Because my years of raising adults are over. My days of having four wonderful, loving and beautiful friends is here.
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