I have been thinking about parenting since I wrote this post . I have mostly been reflecting back on my parenting & then thinking forward on my “grandparenting”. I desire to do both with excellence.
What has come to mind is these expressions that I have heard over the years:
- “Give them wings & let them fly.”
- “Cut the umbilical cord.”
- “Pick your battles.”
- “They need to learn to fend for themselves.”
They can almost ring true. All have some truth to them. But I have come to realize that I take exception to most of them.
- Do we know where they are flying?
- All battles for our children are worth fighting & winning, might I add.
- They do need to learn to fend for themselves but we all need help now & then. Are we there for them?
- Funny how we now have umbilical banks as there is health & life in the umbilical cord.
In thinking this all over, I have come to this conclusion…..
I will ALWAYS be a parent.
And I am glad that I will always be a parent.
AND I hope that my children will always know….
No matter how old they get, I will always be there for them.
When they need help cleaning up a flood or painting or moving for the 4th time.
When they have worked hard & the economy just has not turned out easy.
When they have a car accident & need to be picked up.
When there is a medical need.
When someone needs to sit with them at the hospital or doctor’s office.
When they need to know that someone will pray.
When their cat is sick & dies & someone needs to drive to the vet in the middle of a blizzard.
When someone needs to stay up with them all night because….
Don’t get me wrong. I have always intended to foster their independence & let them live their own life. But I want them to know that I will always be there for them. They can depend on me should they need me. At times I have wondered if this was “poor” parenting. But lately I have become so aware of God as “Father”.
He has never turned me away.
He has always been there for me when I needed Him.
He has never cut the umbilical cord & told me to make it on my own.
Not once.
God is good. And what He gives is good. And He gives as we come to Him & ask. He is approachable. He bids us to come to Him.
He is always Father.
Always.
