Parenting and Religion

I have learned, probably as much from my kids as they have from me….(but please don’t tell them!).

When Joe was a baby (21 years ago), I learned how to fall in love with the littlest things, and how to see things for the first time all over again. Seeing him study and appreciate little things such as newly fallen leaves, it gave me a new sense of wonder.

When my second (Katie) came along, I found out that it is possible to love more than one child, and not lose any of the love you have for the first one. That was my fear, that I wouldn’t love her enough, and she would take away from my love for Joe. I found out that not only does the heart make room for more love, but love keeps on growing.

When Shawn was about 4, I learned that even in the midst of the tragedy of a favorite toy that broke (a ceramic stuffed clown), joy can be found by looking inside to see how it was made. Sometimes other things that don’t seem to go our way need to be examined more closely, to see what they were really made of..that was a big and painful lesson, that tears can be turned to laughter.

When Rachel was born, I learned to trust my istincts (yes, I should have learned that by then…but some of us are not so fast!). All of the rest of us were sick with the flu when she was just one month old. When I got her up in the morning, something was just not right. She didn’t feel feverish, but her color was off and she moaned when I picked her up. I took her in to be seen, and she ended up spending a week in the hospital with RSV. I hesitated to take her because she wasn’t coughing or feverish…but if I hadn’t she could have died. Thank God for giving us mom’s that instinct (which I personally believe is the Holy Spirit leading and speaking to our hearts) that lets us know when something is not right.

When I had Danny, I learned that God does indeed have a sense of humor. One morning when I was about 3 months pregnant, I was having some praise and worship time while I washed the dishes. I got quiet for a moment, and was sure God spoke to my heart that this baby was going to be a “double blessing”. So of course, I thought I was going to have twins. I called my husband and told him what I had just felt, and he got really excited. (we always wanted twins, until the last one…but that’s another story). Anyhow, when I had the ultrasound, there was only one baby in there. We still felt as if that feeling were true, this baby was going to be a double blessing. Well, the day we had Danny we found out why. He was the size of two babies, 12 lbs. 5 oz.!! Double size…double blessing…ok God, you made us laugh!!

Troy taught me that it is ok to give hugs even if you are angry. He has a little temper, yet is loving no matter what. We are working on helping him to control himself when angry, and he is working on not getting angry to the point of tears. Hugs help a lot, and turn the situation around so you can see from the inside a little.

Andy is still teaching me what it will be like to not have any more babies. It is not all bad, I am rather enjoying being out of baby mode- as long as I get a fix once in a while..(thank God for friends who let me hold their babies or grandbabies once in a while!) Andy helps me see things from a child’s perspective. I think it is easier for me with him, because I don’t have another baby I have to concentrate on.

Proverbs 10:22 says “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it.”

My children are truly a blessing from the Lord, and though we may have seasons of sorrow, the joys are what we choose to dwell on, and they are what bring the richness to life. Sometimes sorrow may seem bad, but when we allow the sorrows of life to bring joy, they turn themselves around.

God Bless You,
Jean