"… I reached out leisurely and affectionately to grab my son’s hand. I wanted to walk with him. He pulled his hand back … it was no longer cool to need Mom… I knelt down in the center of the walkway on the River Walk. I grabbed both his hands and simply said, "Will you hold my hand just because I love you, just because I am your mom?" [page 19] Have you found yourself in this situation? Your child is growing up and out-growing you? They want to do it their way and interpret our help as interference. But as parents, our actions only reflect the understanding that our child's life experiences have not yet adequately prepared them to choose in every situation. I remember as a 30-something my parents trying to help guide me in dealing with our children’s ‘teen’ issues. Their attempts made me mad. I was annoyed that they thought I didn't know the issues that were really at play. And I didn't want to listen. This reaction can also apply to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. His influence guiding our habits and/or our traits can sometimes feel like interference. We want to do what we want. We want to respond with what feels fair... Jenni also writes, "I had to redefine my hand for him. What seemed to be a hand that signaled discipline and failure was about something different; it was about a relationship." When our Father's love feels like discipline, we too have just yanked our hand away. But our Father is trying to maintain relationship, keep us safe, knowing our experiences have not adequately prepared us to choose in every situation... I can't think of any event in my life when God intended harm ~ or when His guiding was even remotely questionable. That’s important because it’s easier to give up control and hang onto That hand, when I stop and remember His plans are not only for my good ~ but also for my success and JOY! Romans 8:28 reads: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." How did you feel about this week's reading? What was inspiring?
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