Farewell 2010

As 2010 comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect over the journey of my year of transition. God has taken me, carried me, and danced with me till I’m dizzy. These are the lessons I’ve learned:

1. I may have my own plans but God has His and I want mine to correspond with His perfect design for my life.

2. I may want to be close to God but until I get my head into His Word, I am just blowing smoke through a straw.

3. My husband and my kids are my main priority and that takes continuous work to remain engaged.

4. I can really live on less. I don’t need all of the stuff that I claim is important to me.

5. I want to surround myself with people that support me 24/7 and can tell me when I’m acting like a fruitcake.

I am so thankful for the journey that God has taken me over the course of 2010. I have learned more about myself than ever before, but most importantly, I have learned what it means to consistently and wholeheartedly seek after my One True God. I can’t wait to see what awaits for 2011.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

                                                                              Jeremiah 29:11

Leveraging My Influence as a Parent

Do you ever feel like you are behind the 8 ball as a parent?  I just realized recently that I am the parent of a teenager!  When did that happen?  Wasn't it yesterday that we used a french fry in the hopes of enticing her to walk?  Conceding that I could no longer ignore the situation, I decided to search out my local bookstore to find the most current information on how parents should engage their teens.  As I began reading the texts gathering dust on the shelves, I was so depressed with the expert's reports of how natural it is for teens to pull away from their parents.  Yeah, like it takes a rocket scientist for me not to have realized that one.  I have to admit that as I perused the various subject matters that teens face, I was a little daunted.  There were the:  "How to Talk to Your Teenager about Sex" books, "How to Talk to Your Teenager about Drugs" books, and "How to Talk to Your Teenager about Rock and Roll" books.  Okay, so I added that Rock and Roll stuff.  If only it was that easy.  It was during my meltdown in Barnes and Noble that I realized how blessed we are as we traverse this new adventure with our teen.  We have a God who loves us and our children.  We have witnessed the many times He has alerted us to issues that we need to discuss with our children.  They are amazed when we have those discussions, and we all often marvel at how God has maneuvered our circumstances into teachable moments.  It is proof to them that God loves them and wants them to make wise choices.  Our job is to remain engaged in their world and to seek wisdom.  We have also invested in a church, and that investment extends to our children.  It's such a release to know that they have other adults who they can turn to when they need to talk to someone other than Dad and Mom.  We are confident that these other leaders will provide solid guidance because of our united foundation in Jesus Christ.  And finally, we have strategically chosen their extracurricular activities to take place at a Christian arts center.  We know their instructors will not accept half measures from any of our children, and they will also hold our children accountable for their choices. They encourage, praise, and stretch our children. Their investment in the lives of our children runs much deeper than ballet and music lessons. 

I'm not sure where this road will take us next as we continue to enter the "Land of Parenting Teenagers", but I do know that we have leveraged our influence in our children's lives to the fullest capacity.  We have strategically pursued relationships with others so that they may have influence with our children.  We are confident that they will speak in truth and love to them in all circumstances.  What tomorrow brings, there is no telling. Life has a way of changing in a blink of an eye.  However, our faith resides in a God who loves them more than we ever could.  He will guide and direct us all as we live a life that glorifies Him.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
                                                                     Deuteronomy 6:  5-9