Keeping Life Interesting

I have had a couple of people tell me very similar stories lately.  If I weren't paying attention, and I fear I am often not paying attention, I might have missed it.  I have started to notice that when a theme starts to develop in my life, I should take note and keep my eyes open.

The gist of the stories has been this:  the times when parents have lost sleep, or really felt crummy about a situation their child has either gotten into, or the parent has helped to get them into, have been some of the best things that have ever happened to those children.

One of the stories was from my dad.  He reminded me of the night that he got a call from one of his good friends, who happened to be an attorney, that I had called from the police station because I had been pulled over for drinking and driving.  He told me how much he had agonized over the situation and wondered what would become of it.  In the end, it was a turning point in my life.  I finally realized how harmful partying had become in my life, and that I needed to make some major changes.  What had seemed like a total disaster at the time turned my life around.

It has me thinking.  First, what in the world is coming up that is going to rock my world and make me wonder if all my parenting has been amiss?  Maybe I just need the reassurance that even when I think I have pushed too hard, or challenged too much, that those seeming setbacks are sometimes our biggest victories.  We were studying Genesis 2 today and the question came up, Why would God put man in the garden, and then give him trees that were not for him to eat from?  Why give him a temptation that he would ultimately give in to?  I'm sure the true answer is too wonderful for my little mind to comprehend.  I did think that God put man there to make the story better.  Sure, a beautiful garden full of flowers and fruit, birds and animals is wonderful, but where is the story?

The really good stories are messy.  They don't feel good the whole time.  They have high points, and tension, evil characters, and good characters with flaws.  The plots take unexpected twists.  Yes, Adam failed to keep a very few simple commands, and there begins an epic love story.  I am hopeful that the final chapter will be far more glorious than a perfect empty garden.  I am looking forward to a beautiful kingdom full of interesting characters.  I know it sounds a little loony, but I am hopeful anyway.

What does this have to do with stories about children that have low spots in their stories?  Hope.  I am a dreamer, in an odd pragmatic way.  I am hoping that when my children hit their low spots I will say, "it can only get better from here."  That has been the story of my life, and Adam's, and Peter's, and countless others.  I feel a little bit sorry for those who have had pretty smooth sailing throughout their stories.  They fear failure, embarrassment, illness, stumbles, bad decisions, life.  Those are the things that make interesting people interesting.  They take a hard fall, and they learn how to deal with it.  They learn about repentance and forgiveness.  They learn about who they really are, and how much potential God has given them.  They learn to trust God in ALL His ways.  My children have to learn that, and I know that the really valuable lessons are costly.  Now, if only I can keep this little bit of information handy for when the day of reckoning hits.  In case it slips my mind, if you have read this, please remind me.

#1198-1206

Snow beating against my window

My remote control fireplace, sad but true

Tortellini, sausage soup

Boys arm in arm, one black and one white listening to a friend recite the "I Have A Dream Speech"

Friends sharing struggles

God blessing hard Providences

Seeing children succeed in school

Friends reminding me to be thankful for coffee and wine