It’s not for the faint of heart.

Requiring the utter surrender of one’s life for a time, and the constant giving way for the better of others at other times, it is a job that will teach you the value of sacrifice.  The rewards of thinking for another human being with utter devotion.

It’s more than just changing diapers and doing laundry; it’s growing hearts, minds and spirits. Not just those entrusted to your care, but also your own.

Sometimes, the job is thrust upon one “by mistake.”  Unplanned for, it happens when one wasn’t ready.  Sometimes, the job is sought after for years and years before it is attained.

Incredible capacity for love will be grown.  Incredible capacity for absorbing pain and still coming to the aid of another.  Incredible capacity for giving…giving…giving.

And for receiving untold depths of joy, amazement and sheer, heart-stopping moments of “Wow!”

The job will forever and ever and ever change your life, even after the day to day business of it has ceased.  Duties vary, but also remain constant for years.

You will not be perfect at it all the time, and even when you are, there are no awards.  No raises in pay.  No promotions. The job title is always the same.  And though it will grate at times, and you might wish to run off for a weekend on occasion, you will miss the job enormously.

And if you do it right… You work yourself right into retirement.  With a smile on your face and a sigh of satisfaction.  Retired, but never fully “done.”

May God bless us all who are in the trenches of parenting!  :)  Keep up the good work, people, and know that your name will live on.  May it shine long and with all the best memories you can impart to it.

Tags: children, joy, Parenting

That’s a favorite Bible verse for many folks.  It reminds them of a few things.

1)  That there is a path to follow.
2) That someone wants to make sure they can see the path.
3)  They are not alone on this path.
and
4) When they have any confusion, there is a place to go for illumination.

What some folks fail to understand, though, is the very significant phrase “to my feet.”

The Maker of that Path up there is wise beyond all human wisdom.  He knows the many directions each person’s path can take, dependent upon their exercise of their free will.  He does not see in a linear fashion, and he knows — intimately — how confused people get even when rules and paths are spelled out clearly.  In stone, yet.

So, he provides us with his word, the light to our feet.  Just to our feet, though.  Just so we can see where we are and to see enough to step forward.  Not a big step, maybe.  Just enough so we know we are on solid ground.

Does he want to drive us crazy? <grin> Nah.  I believe that the Creator of All is seeking much more positive growth for us.  He wants us to have faith in him.  And he also wants to protect us.

If we could see beyond our feet, we might indeed go crazy.   Bewildered by too many possibilities.  Frightened by the what we might see happening.  Frozen, in fact, and perhaps unwilling to go forward.  Oh, there are great joys ahead for us, of course, but…

The path to joy is rarely strewn with flowers.  It often comes through adversity.  Which builds us up, strengthens us, and makes us appreciate the joy when we understand it.

Sometimes, it’s right there at our feet. In that pool of light.  Where God has prepared a place for our learning, if only we will seek his word and listen.

Tags: free will, God, god's word, growth, joy, learning, light