Compass

In the comment section of a friend's blog, I discover:

Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words.
~ St. Francis of Assisi

As parents we often feel
our words fall on deaf ears,
or worse, that our attempts
to communicate actually
backfire, prolonging the
2-year-old's tantrum
or pushing the teenager
in rebellion in the
opposite direction.

2:16 a.m. Startled awake,
we feel anxious, afraid. When the familiar voice on the phone
asks for a ride home, do we prepare a stern lecture or give thanks, as we warm up our car?
When the voice reveals an accident, do we cling to panic
or choose to pray?

Parenting is an inexact science, unpredictable, without measured outcomes. We are ill-equipped for the position. Receiving on-the-job training, we journey by trial-and-error. Our job is
to equip children for an adult journey, to provide a compass.
God provides the itinerary.


10:00 p.m. Sidewalks and roads covered with fresh fallen snow.
1:30 a.m. The driver and passenger are both wearing seat belts.
2:16 a.m. Rescue personnel are on the scene.
1:15 p.m. Husband and wife embrace each other at home.

Parents, don't come down too hard

on your children or you'll crush their spirits.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune

with each other, in step with each other.

Colossians 3:21, 3:15 MSG

The MoM in me is WoW'd.

Rw
.