Miraculous (An Introspection)

They are miraculous, these children of mine.

Each arrived with a unique personality, special gifts and abilities, and challenges.
Sometimes I look at them and marvel at their lives,
wonder at what is in store for them,
just like myriad other parents who love their miraculous kids do.

As parents we try so hard to teach our children,
and arm them with skills and knowledge,
to help them avoid all the heartache, pain, suffering and disappointment possible.
But we can’t prevent these things from touching their lives.
There is no such thing as a life without hard times.

So I wonder, always, what challenges will my sweet children experience?
What will they endure down the road?
What are they enduring right now,
and how can I help them?

There is no way to stop the onslaught.
Hearts will ache, bonds will break, chances and opportunities will come and go.
Then there are the vices.
Will the gripping hold of addiction be their plague?
…whether it be alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, pornography, immorality, or some other hellacious pit that relentlessly clings to its captives.
Will mental, eating, or other disorders
infiltrate their minds and color their perceptions?
How about relationship issues?
Will they marry and live (essentially) happily ever after?
Struggle to find their soul mate
Wade through the impact of divorce?
Will children come to them easily,
or not at all?
Will poverty follow them, will they have difficulty making their way in the world?
Will they be victims of crime, or serious accidents, illness or injuries?
Will they suffer abuse of any sort?
What about materialism? Will they be able to resist the lure and allure of things?
Will life be essentially peaceful?
Or will war, invasion and terror
be the hallmark of their days ~
like it is for so many.

With the list of possible challenges stretching off into the horizon,
it would be easy to just focus on this moment,
and react to the demands of today
(Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof).
Or to feel hopeless,
unequal to the task of successfully raising
these children ‘o mine.

But I’m not.

I'm optimistic.
And like countless other committed parents,
I am trying to arm them with the tools and skills they’ll need
in order to navigate the challenges that will come,
the ones that are here today,
and those just around the bend.
Trying to teach them to handle the ebb and flow of life
with faith, honesty, steadiness, and humility
to keep their wits about them
as they continue achieving, excelling and finding joy
in daily life,
even while dealing with problems.

It’s not easy.
Sometimes I feel like I’m walking in a dark tunnel,
with no light shining up ahead,
and only the faint glow of past experience glimmering behind me,
reminding me that there is further light to be found.

But every now and then, I lift my sights and see another parent,
who has traveled this route before.
Whose children are just a little bit further down the road of life.
And I notice how they’re doing it, how they’ve handled things.
Things I haven’t even begun to experience yet.

I observe the wisdom they’ve incorporated into their parenting journey,
and take notes to file away for when I am in a similar situation.

Wise parents seem to have mastered the patience needed
to allow the chrysalis-esque process
of transforming from child to teen to adult
to happen,
without meddling in a way that would damage
the fragile new creature about to spread it's wings.

It’s a fine line, this meddling or interfering.
But when the process is complete, do they sit in awe
and wonder
at the remarkable creature before them?
So different yet so familiar to the one they brought into the world
seemingly yesterday?

We try our best to arm our sweet children.
Teach them who they are, why they’re special, why they’re here.
I know no matter what I do,
I’ll never prevent them from learning things through hard experiences.
And it almost seems like an ironic twist
that sometimes the things we try hardest to prevent
or most want to avoid,
find a way to affect our lives.

So more than anything else,
I hope my sweet children learn
that no matter what
I love them.
No matter the mistake, heartache, failing, or problem,
I love them.
No matter what
I’m on their team.

And they can get through anything.
And they’ll be better, stronger, more imitable and happier people
for enduring well.
They can lean on me,
they can lean on their dad,
they can lean on each other
and their friends and loved ones,
but most of all I hope they lean on their God.

I know He’ll lead them back to Him if they’ll let Him,
and I hope I’m there when they arrive.