Our last child has embarked on her solo
life. I can’t say much since she has
graduated college and has been working full time for over a year. Besides, as I watched her grow up I noticed
the same independent streak that was in her birth mother was in her. Sometimes I wanted her to stay my little
girl, but other days I wanted her to move on so that constant struggle over
everything would end.
One thing I wish along with many other parents
is that our children would listen to the wisdom we have on various topics of
life. We only want what’s best for them,
and so we try to hint or advise but it seems to land on deaf ears. So we watch after our kids get into one mess
after another, hoping and praying they will see the light and choose a better
path. As for my daughter, I think she
must have developed a taste for Frank Sinatra and his song “I Did It My
Way”. (Curiously I just noticed the
first 3 letters of his last name…)
I know the pain and frustration she is
headed for, but cannot stop it because she is old enough and she has to suffer
the consequences of her own choices. Hopefully,
she will learn quickly, but there are many things I have taken years to learn…
Anyway, she wants to do it her way, on her own, without the advice of
experienced adults because her close friends and society know much better. They have the wisdom that works…
It gets very frustrating as a parent who
sees the truth but cannot stop the train.
At what point do we totally give up trying? At what point does our heart stop hurting for
them? When do we just not care
anymore? NEVER!!! We never give up because they are ours and we
love them more than life, even when we are angry with them.
To be honest, I can’t say that I’m all
that dissimilar to my daughter. That
same stubborn streak to do things my own way has interfered with the
relationship I have with my Heavenly Father for years. ‘I know best,’ ‘I don’t need Your opinion or
advice,’ My way is better,’ ‘I want to control my own life,’ ‘I’ll do it my way!’ None of these things were ever expressly
stated to Him, but they were always there in my actions: prayer towards the
ends I desired, choosing my own path and crying to Him when it didn’t work out,
believing my own wisdom was good enough, often not asking Him first, etc.
Lord, help me
to continue changing and giving over all to You.
There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the
counsel of Jehovah shall stand. Pr. 19:21
"This is what
the LORD says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your
God, who teaches you how to succeed, who directs you in the path by which you
should go. Is. 48:17 ISV
The Lord has never
given up on me…
He’s never
stopped caring…
for I am His and
He still loves me…
even
those times He chastises me.
As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Rv. 3:19
…"My son, despise not the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives." Hb. 12:5,6