What a Ride!

 

 

 Train up a child in the way he should go." Proverbs 22:6

I had enough nieces and nephews and experience at babysitting to feel pretty confident that I could do the child training thing. I had all kinds of ideas about what shouldn't be done. And I knew that when it came my turn to do the "mom" thing, I could do it!  

Funny, isn't it? I actually openly laughed when I heard my own children (pre-having their own kids era) bragging on how they thought the parenting thing should be done.

The older I get, the more I realize the less I knew. The more I learn, the more I realize that child training also involves parent training. You learn together. 

I really wish I would have journaled my feelings through those training years. But I didn't have much time. And I really didn't want to. A mommy's emotions jump around so much, it would be hard to know which ones are the real ones for the day. 

You hardly have time to read the Word, let alone interpret what "training up a child" is.  Just let me tell you, any kind of training is hard; on the trainee and the trainer. Most training involves a few weeks or months. You have basically 18  years to train  a child. That's a long time. I really don't want to think about being trained or training  someone for that long.

The definition of "training " implies organized activity aimed to form or improve a recipient's performance to a required level of knowledge or skill. So it's our job to train a child to be an adult! What a job! And having children is supposed to be fun! And organized! And successful! And believe me, when you send them out on the field after that 18 years and watch them making decisions, you think you probably skipped some chapters or fell asleep somewhere in there!

I observe the training field for various stages of training in the families around me. I see the exhaustion in the dads who are holding down stressful jobs and coming home to little shadows who demand attention.  I  see weariness  on the face of moms who are trying to understand the phases of raising children and looking to the Good Book for more specific answers. . I see confusion in the children when they are trying to listen and learn and not  necessarily getting it. I understand the temptation to let up; find an easier way or just cop out. It's hard; this life training.

I don't know how I did it. And I know I didn't do it all perfect. I know the grace of God was there when I lost my way. I know I cried.  I smiled. Some days were horrid. I looked for the joy. I know I laughed a lot! Somedays were fun; some days you wanted to erase and start over.

All I can say to you weary mommies still on the Roller Coaster. It's a big ride. Those hills are hard to chug up. The thrilling downhill swoops feel good enough to try another round. Having been through some harrowing upside down loops keep you buckled up for safety. You keep pulling the Handbook out of the glove compartment as you lean into the curves! And you have faith. The Manual is tried and proven. I am one of the thousands who used it and it works!

And, like me, when you get through that indescribable adventure, stand up on those trembling legs, pump that fist and say "Thank you, Jesus. What a ride!"

By the way,  I am one of those Moms who love to hear your stories, good or bad. I don't judge you. I pray a lot for you.  And by the grace of God: You. Will. Make It. I did.