We were talking about lots of different stuff yesterday. It's fun to see your child become an adult. But it's also heart-breaking and difficult to find your place as a parent in their rapidly changing independent lives.
I'm doing a study by Jessica LaGrone about families -- how God starts with a family when He's going to do a big work. It's a great study. She writes, "release is the lifelong vocation of parents . . . handing my children over to God."
So true, so true. When I try to figure out my young adult children's lives, God reminds me, "I've got this Jane. Let me work in their lives. Trust me. Don't worry. Pray."
Each stage in our children's lives means a new stage for their parents. From the very first day a child is born we are teaching them to live on his or her own. This is why we shouldn't come to their rescue all the time. Let God do it. He wants to -- He is planning on it. He wants to be first in their lives; and if they, as young adults, depend on their parents for everything, they will find it out hard to look to God. It is a walk of faith to know when to step in and when to watch and see what God is going to do. And in those times you can't be the rescuer, you can be sure God has a plan!
Funny thing -- same principle applies really for everyone in our lives. We don't want to be a god to them. We don't want people to mistake us for being their savior when there is a real Savior just waiting to be in their lives. Again, it takes a lot of prayer. Sometimes we are the ones who need to fill that need we see. Sometimes we aren't the one to fill that need.
Sometimes people will try to pressure us to fill a need because they think we should. Don't bow to pressure. Step back and rest in God and seek Him. Bowing to pressure will just encourage whoever it is to use that kind of emotional manipulation again. Emotional Manipulation isn't healthy for anyone -- the person doing it or the person he or she is doing it too.
This is not the post I wanted to write. I wanted to write about a funny conversation I had with one of my children but I was told I couldn't. And I was told, "You aren't funny Mom. The only thing funny about you is your laugh."
That might be true. I cackle.
Yes -- like a witch. And the longer I laugh the more that cackle sounds witch-like.