We Are A Family — A Look at Parenting
So many days of waiting, hoping, planning, and growing, now the time is here.
“Joey, Joey wake up. The baby. It’s coming”
What’s coming, what…. Oh, Oh, the Baby!!”
Almost falling over misplaced shoes, Joey is dressed in an instant.
Into the car, car seat for baby has long been in place.
Hospital appears, ER, wheelchair, off to maternity. I call out,
“Joey hurry, I need you.” And I was gone.
“How close are the pains?”
“Five minutes apart for about one hour now.”
“OK, let’s get ready.”
Lines and monitors, bells and sounds, and time and time and time pass
Something’s wrong, too long, it’s too long.
“Oh God, how this hurts, please help me.”
Joey’s face is pale, hands are moist, something’s wrong.
More doctors, What? C Section? Right Now!
“No” one old doc says, “let her push again, she can do it.”
Joey’s hand held tight, prayers, prayers, and all my strength.
Please, please come baby, come to me.
Then amazing feeling, one more push, baby is here.
No sound, is he breathing? Please God let him breath.
Loud cry, everyone cheers,
Old doc says, “You have a fine Baby Boy. Just rest now.”
Thank you, God, thank you.
Joey’s tears wet my face and mine wet his.
We are a family.
*************************************
What a special time when a baby comes into your life. On the one hand, it is something so common, it happens every day. On the other hand, it is something so amazing you will spend your life trying to grasp it and live up to the enormity of the new task. The task of parenting. This baby, this new gift with whom God has blessed and entrusted you will change life as you knew it forever. Every one is a special gift, every one is different, every one is an amazing bundle of potential and talent and joy and love.
Of all of the things that parents can do and need to do, I would like to speak to just one. That is helping your child discover and realize the potential that God has placed in them. What a joyous, complicated, rewarding treasure hunt. What a challenge to unwarp the mystery hidden in that beautiful little package after making their debut into this world.
With a cry that says, “I am here and there is much for me to do,” they announce that they are a force to be reckoned with and barring our interference, they will not be denied.
Do not miss the blessed opportunity and sacred duty to become a student of your child. Watch them, listen to them, even before they speak real words. Their babbles have meaning. Learn about them and from them. What makes their eyes dance and twinkle? What makes their ears perk up? What holds their interest? Do not miss this, there is a message. Plan things that will help to pull out their abilities, interests, and talents. Do not let them be lazy when the hard times come, and they will come. Be their greatest cheer leader, their loving critic, their soft-landing spot when a trial fails, and finally the bow to launch the arrow they have become.
You have both been given a divine challenge. Respect and live up to it. What better way could you spend your shared time together than helping them, directing them, supporting them, and sending them to be the best blessing that they can be to the world. To realize God’s plan for their life is their highest calling and yours is to be their launching pad.
But do not fail to enjoy the journey, it is truly one of a kind. Walk together with them but know when your path ends and theirs goes on without you. They will intersect again if you have done your job well. This is as it should be and, in their heart, you will always be Mom and Dad.
Proverbs 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.”