These days, I find myself on the sidelines as they scrimmage on the field of adolescence. I mentor. I listen. We process what they see, hear, and feel. Together, we find the answers. There's no need for "I told you so." Lessons learned this time around sting and teach without words. We hug . I comfort. We talk TRUTH. Other times, I give them space. I wait. Then we talk TRUTH. It hurts to see them hurt. I want to protect them, but they're increasing independence in this broken world makes it impossible to do so. So, I cling to the TRUTH- They're really His.
My precious children have merely been entrusted to us for a short time. I must trust in The One who created them in order to keep it all together. He knows and loves them more than I could ever imagine. I pray that they learn to trust Him much more quickly than I did, that their paths would be made clear, and that their courage to speak the TRUTH would be strong. I pray that I know when to step in and when to step back. I pray for the wisdom to parent the way my heavenly father parents me- with a delicate balance of truth and grace.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the TRUTH and the life." John 14:6a
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7