The young mom walked through my front door looking bedraggled, weary, and a tear
drop away from falling apart. Her two young children in tow, she was dropping
them off at my in -home daycare on her way to work.
Immediately my motherly instinct kicked in. I put a consoling arm around her
shoulder and asked what was wrong. She began to cry which really gave me cause
for concern. In an instant the worst case scenario came to mind. Had there been
an accident? Had someone in her family died? Did she recently find out she had
cancer? Thankfully it became clear that none of these tragedies were the reason
for her emotional distress that morning.
With a tear stained face she confided the terrible trauma. It was her little
boy's antics that had her at wit's end. At three years old his frequent tantrums
were wearing her down and that morning's escapades further fueled her
frustrations. I tried not to laugh or make light of her obvious feelings of
helplessness. After all, as parents, haven't we all walked in those shoes at one
time or another?
I didn't have the heart to tell this novice mom that these days of dealing with
outbreaks of disobedience and toddler tantrums is like the calm before the storm
as far as parenting goes. She was in no shape to hear about what's in store when
tiny tots grow into teen terrors.
I gave her a big, reassuring hug and promised her it does get better, though I
left out the part that it will take another 18 years or so.
But, just as mothers soon forget the pain of childbirth we, as parents, soon
forget the trials and tribulations our children put us through. We do our best
for our children and sometimes it crushes us to the core when they rebel or
behave badly towards us.
Eventually our offspring do grow up leaving parents with only a faint memory of
those impossible years.
This brings to mind our relationship with our heavenly Father. His abundant
patience and unending guidance endures the rebellious stages of His children. He
quietly waits out the storm of our indifference, calmly waiting with open arms
for us to seek His will. And as we each grow up into spiritual maturity, God's
all encompassing love will hold us close as our own impossible years will be
forgiven through His redeeming grace.
Kathy Whirity kathywhirity@yahoo.com
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