I watched today as the families of 3 of my 4 children gathered at my house to celebrate Mothers’ Day. It is always a crazy, busy time when we are all together but a joy that fills my heart to the top. I watched the grands as they went through the token buffet line of Cane’s chicken and extras. They sat contented, happily visiting and laughing on the island as they cleaned their plates, only to hurry, be excused and find some outdoor activities. Out of 7, how could my 3 oldest ones already be teenagers? I remember when they were all babies….and watching the stages year after year that each of them have gone through. “They grow so fast” is the common term but how true!
Life is just that...for all of us; a line up of one stage after another...you can't skip around them...you have to go through them... some stages are easier than others and some stages are easier for others. Stages, even though they are similar in nature are very different according to personalities, strengths and weaknesses of each of us. We as adults have clearly figured that out. God knows how we are wired and what it will take for us, individually to plow through a situation And that is one lesson that we have as parents…to help our adult children and their children to hang in there and trust God to be with them at every turn. No matter what stage we are in, or how old we are, one element remains consistent. Christ is and always has been available to be our greatest helper. He knows the roads we will travel...and he knows the bumps and the obstacles that we will face. He is there to give us strength, motivation, and the insight...to make our vision one with HIs.
We were watching Austin Ridge live this morning and today there was a stage completely filled from right to left of parents and their small babies and toddlers to be dedicated to God. The comment was made that these children are totally dependent on their parents…they need the love, care and provisions of their parents and are not able to survive on their own. And it was such a good analogy of how we all are infants in the arms of our majestic and magnificent God. He created us in His image and will carry us and grow us according to His purposes. He has allowed us through free will to set out and face His many stages he offers in life...We have the choice to try to take it on alone and stagger through or we can gratefully and gracefully accept Christs’ hand of leadership and boldly and confidently approach each stage one at a time.
We all will have challenges with each new stage, and so will our kids, because it takes us all out of our comfort zone and pushes us into new horizons. We strive to do what is best and right, but sometimes we work ourselves into a frenzy thinking that we are the only ones who can best control the outcome. We are not. If we can shift a bit and release our hold on whatever it is that has us tied up in knots and pause and pray… God will quietly step in and nudge us and direct our moves. If we day by day develop a true confidence and trust in that very truth, we are then able to adapt to a peaceful solid footing on whatever is before us. The harder the trial...the greater His glory if we let Him orchestrate our path.
In Numbers 33, God records the stages of Moses...he also records our stages as well. God is faithful to be beside us and guide us through each stage that he has allowed us to be in. For he is a big God who cradles us in His loving arms...but then grows us up and sends us out into this world to bring his Kingdom down to this earth. He has been training us since we were little and he still is. We all are gifted, adored, loved and guided by an awesome God of grace. May we all embrace the stages that we are confronted with, and hurdles that seem to jump on our path, with thanksgiving and praise. For we have been given a mighty helper in Christ and we are never alone on this journey… His grace and mercy endures forever.
Dear Lord, Thank you for the blessing of children...and grandchildren for they remind us of the stages that you crawl us through. May we take the lessons that we have learned along the way and embrace them and faithfully use them to glorify you in our everyday life. Amen
Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in…. for HIS glory will shine through!