I have been struggling for many days now to find the words and way to write this post, hence the time lapse between my last post. While on our vacation here in Sweden, I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit with many friends from my childhood and of course family. William has been learning, experiencing, and observing many things. He has tried new foods, gone on ferries, spent time on an island, taken tennis lessons, learned many Swedish words and phrases, taken trains, learned how to lawn boule, gone kayaking, gone mushroom picking in the forest, and simply spent time with his Swedish family. It has all truly been a gift.
Gifts can come in all forms, though. Gifts can even be a negative experience to give you perspective and understanding. During this trip I have been given such a gift.
Being in the presence of someone (in my case, an old childhood friend) you really want to spend time with and talk to, but feeling that you have to fit into a time schedule or that you are not as important as other matters, is saddening. It does not matter whether it is by a friend, a parent, or a spouse; it still stings.
I truly cherish and respect my friend, and am not judging her in any way as I know she gave me as much time and energy as she could, but the experience really made me reflect on my parenting. I was able to experience the feeling I believe many children feel today. When we, as parents, busy ourselves with our own success, needs, and desires, and disregard time spent developing relationships with our children, are we glorifying God? What is our most important job as parents? When our children spend most of the day away from us and are more influenced by others, are we glorifying God then when the time spent with them lacks our mental focus? When the time spent with our children is lacking our mental presence due to our own busyness, but is justified by our physical presence, are we fulfilling God's will as parents?
Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 is a lovely reminder of how God wants us to teach and spend time with our children.
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.
Not only has this recent experience made me realize how I need to focus more of my mental energy on talking to and understanding my children's needs and desires, but it has also helped me understand how they must feel when I am physically present but mentally focused on everything but them. In writing this, I realize that this applies to my focus on my husband as well. So often he only gets part of my attention, but he deserves more. Oh, man...more to pray about.
I am thankful that each day brings new growth and wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment