Saturday, June 22, 2013

Parent Friends

When my children were little, I wondered if I would ever get a full night of sleep again.  When they reached those preteen years, I wondered if they would ever learn to pick up after themselves.  When they reached teen years, I wondered if I would live to see 50 or have a heart attack instead.  When they reached adulthood, we became friends.  However, I have learned over the past 14  years or so that even after they marry and begin having children of their own, there are times you still have to step in a be a parent.  The day may come when they feel they must act almost as a parent to me, so hopefully I have trained them well and will continue doing so. 
There are times now when I remember their childhood and wonder where the time went.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I held my eldest in my arms, marveling at God's goodness and love?  No, that was over 34 years ago.  Wasn't it just last week my oldest son who was 2 years old broke his brand new train so he could see how it worked?  Didn't my baby just carve his name in my kitchen chairs last month?  Didn't our daughter just throw away her kindergarten papers because she had missed 1 problem the other day?  No. All these things happened many years ago, yet I can almost reach out and touch them, they are so near.  I sit here crying thinking about how frustrated I became with them.  I had to go in my bedroom and pray so that I wouldn't say or do something I'd regret later.  Why did those things matter so much?  They have nothing to do with eternity except in how I handled them.  I learned from my momma that things are just things.  When they are gone, they are gone.  People are eternal. 
Now I am a grandma and I absolutely love it!!  All the mistakes I learned as a parent help me help my children in rearing their children, which is how I believe God intended things to be.  That's why we are called grandparents.  We should have learned enough to make our parenting skills grand by now and hopefully one day they will be greatly grand.
Lord, thank You for the opportunity of being a parent.  May You use the lessons You taught me to benefit others in their child rearing experiences.  Make me into a truly grand parent and one day make me great for Your glory and honor.  May many rise up and call Your women children blessed because we seek to honor You in becoming the woman You describe in Proverbs 31. 

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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