SO MUCH HARDER THAN POTTY TRAINING...

Watching and waiting...
It's what parenting adult children is all about, I think.

I'm fairly new at this, since my kids are young adults at 24 (soon), 22, and 18 years of age.  But many conversations with my friends have led to this conclusion.  Whether our newly launched kids are struggling or successful, we are waiting and watching and cheering and praying daily for them.

We are scared.  We are waiting to see what our kids will choose once they finish high school, college, or move out of our homes.  Will they choose God or self?  Will they choose to follow what their parents have taught them all their lives or deny it?  We are hesitant to say what is really going on with our children.  We are afraid we'll be judged, we'll feel guilt, so we protect ourselves.  We avoid the topic.  It's hard to share our child's success when our friends' children are struggling.  Our friendships become distant...

This summer I've been in my first ever Beth Moore study.  She is a dynamic teacher with lots of energy and enthusiasm (it's a video series).  I don't know how many times I've studied the prodigal son, but she brought out a point I hadn't noticed before.  In the lesson of the prodigal son, Luke 15, she points out, there are 3 lost things.  The sheep and the coin are IMMEDIATELY searched for.  The prodigal son is not.  God knows people are different.  The father in the parable doesn't immediately go after his son.  BUT he watches and waits.  When the son has experienced the consequences of his actions, he is healed.  He comes to his senses.  As he draws near to his home, the father sees him.  He's been watching for him.  He's been waiting.  He runs to meet his son.  The son has been healed through the consequences and respectfully asks for a fresh start.  It's a sweet reunion.  So many of my dear friends are in this boat!  Who's to say that I won't be some time?

This simple concept of WATCHING, WAITING, AND LETTING CONSEQUENCES HEAL our children is hard - probably the hardest thing we've ever done as parents.  So much harder than the days of potty training and getting the kids to do their chores!  But it's all we can do once our children are adults.  Not only is this a lesson in parenting, but it shows us how much our heavenly Father values us and patiently watches and wait for us to return to Him.

Amazing love.

I'm reminded again of my friend's blog header:

Be Kind.  For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.   - Plato