When I was young my Dad raised Apalousa horses. His dream was to have a foal with a perfect white blanket on it's rump. Then we had Stormy with his perfect markings. Success in the sweet form of this precious little creature. We were thrilled!
His name was Stormy since he was born during a rare Phoenix thunderstorm. It was cold and windy but she and her mom were safe and cozy in their stall. The next morning I ran out on my swift 10 year old legs to ooh and aah over our new family member. Only Stormy was lying there still and Lady, her mom was moaning and pushing her with her nose. During the night Lady had tried to keep her baby warm and laid her head on her newborn. She crushed the life out of him with her protection. So sad.
I am as guilty as Lady of trying to overprotect my children. No, I have not crushed the life out of them but I do more than I should to ease their way through life. Even as I tell parents of my students to back off and let their kids be more independent I know how hypocritical it is. My kids are grown adults. The government says they are adults capable of taking care of their own affairs. I need to trust them to make their own choices, to survive their own storms. Trusting them is letting them fly solo and not tucking them under my arms safe but not breathing on their own. God has this, my kids have this, my job now is to step back and trust.
Losing Stormy was tough at 10. Losing Ryan when he was 24 was devastating. Lady couldn't protect Stormy and I couldn't protect Ry. But I know my kids are in better hands than mine and He will protect them through every storm. He can also protect my mother's heart if I only place it in his hands along with my children's lives.
In Him,
Joyful
His name was Stormy since he was born during a rare Phoenix thunderstorm. It was cold and windy but she and her mom were safe and cozy in their stall. The next morning I ran out on my swift 10 year old legs to ooh and aah over our new family member. Only Stormy was lying there still and Lady, her mom was moaning and pushing her with her nose. During the night Lady had tried to keep her baby warm and laid her head on her newborn. She crushed the life out of him with her protection. So sad.
I am as guilty as Lady of trying to overprotect my children. No, I have not crushed the life out of them but I do more than I should to ease their way through life. Even as I tell parents of my students to back off and let their kids be more independent I know how hypocritical it is. My kids are grown adults. The government says they are adults capable of taking care of their own affairs. I need to trust them to make their own choices, to survive their own storms. Trusting them is letting them fly solo and not tucking them under my arms safe but not breathing on their own. God has this, my kids have this, my job now is to step back and trust.
Losing Stormy was tough at 10. Losing Ryan when he was 24 was devastating. Lady couldn't protect Stormy and I couldn't protect Ry. But I know my kids are in better hands than mine and He will protect them through every storm. He can also protect my mother's heart if I only place it in his hands along with my children's lives.
In Him,
Joyful
Ohhh, that's such a sad story about Stormy. I still fear crushing my son with my love and need to take care of him.
ReplyDeleteAnd, at the same time, I know that I can't REALLY protect him. That he's in God's Hands all the time, anyway.
I struggle with worry and over-protectiveness although I know God tells us to not worry and to place in all in his hands. It can be so hard to do though.
ReplyDelete