I have trouble sometimes understanding spiritual matters. I pray and read and attend church, but I struggle to grasp some of the loftier ideas. Then once in a while, God shows me something so simple that I smack my head. Of course it would be wonderful to understand the many layers of Christ’s teachings, but perhaps the basics are enough for me to handle right now. And what better way to get something through my thick skull than to use parenting as the example. After all, that’s what I do. That’s what I am… a parent. I can identify.
My latest lesson came about during the current
stage of my life. If you have older kids, you know the stage I mean. Some of
the hands-on part of parenting is tapering off and I’m watching our five
children begin to live their lives as young adults. Three are college-age living in different
towns and two are still in high school. This year, everyone was home for
Thanksgiving, Christmas and several other weekend breaks. We’ve always had great
family time. We love the holiday rituals which have been in place since the
kids were young. We enjoy talking, eating, and laughing together. But, for the last year or so I have been
anxiously watching my offspring. Specifically, I’m watching their relationships
with each other.
I’m wondering about those days and months
between the festivities. I can’t help but notice the siblings are moving in
very different directions. Will they stay in touch? Will they go out of their
way to be interested in each others’ lives? Will they call on one another for
help? Will they offer help without being called? I hope…I pray they do all
these things. I see them beginning to and it makes me feel so much love for
them. It makes me feel happy and proud and so blessed. My husband and I have
loved and cherished them, now they are following our example with each other.
Then,
it dawned on me. As God’s children, this is exactly what we must do. Love one
another. Look out for our brothers and sisters. God has loved us and taught us
how to love. He has protected us and blessed us and now it’s our turn to
reflect those things by loving one another. As strongly as I want my children
to care for each other, how much more does our Father in heaven want His children
to do the same?
So
let’s collectively smack our heads and start living in a manner that is
pleasing to God, our Father. Let’s be good sons and daughters. By staying in
touch, being interested in one another, helping out when needed even when our
lives take us in different directions. It is so simple and so right.
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