My Context
Donald Miller posted recently about how life is the context for our spirituality. Simple, but, you know, I think this one gets lost in translation fairly often. Being a Christian should impact our everyday lives; we should be making decisions differently, pursuing more noble feats, honoring things that really matter.
My kids are my primary spiritual context (closely after my relationship with my husband, but this isn’t a post about him). Here are a few things my context is working out in me right now:
1. Answers Don’t Always Come The Way You Want. You know Claire has mild cerebral palsy from her premature birth and we’ve been going every 12 weeks for Botox shots to help relax the muscles in her tight leg. The night before our most recent trip, I had an increasing sense of reluctance and something resembling anger. Why do we have to keep putting her through this painful procedure? I want something to change! That morning, her doctor came in with the same attitude. “I think it’s time to do something else.” Yay! Well, sort of. The something else is a tendon lengthening surgery in both her lower leg and her quad area. Maybe casted for six weeks after. Months of physical therapy. But, it just might change everything about Claire’s walk and, in the words of the doctor, allow her to “do the things she wants to do.”
2. Some People Shine in Trials. Claire’s only response to the impending surgery is this: “I can’t WAIT to ride in a wheelchair!” : )
3. Giving Freedom is Tough. Our oldest, Jesse, is nine, and he got a new bike for his birthday. Suddenly he’s riding around the block in his little gang of elementary boys and asking to “go over” to so-and-so’s house to “shoot hoops.” Meanwhile, I keep the back door cracked open while he’s gone to listen for his cry when he falls off his bike or loses the basketball game. I know he needs to go, I just never anticipated how much it would worry me. Can I grant the kind of freedom to the people I lead? Can I trust them? Can I trust God? How does Father God do it for me? Or you?
4. Vacation is a Gift. I’m really looking forward to some family time in the days ahead without demanding schedules. I’m not sure what that’s teaching, but I think I probably ought to pay attention. (When was the last time I gave God that privilege in my life?) This weekend we’re off to do music for a dear friend’s wedding and they are putting us up at a “ranch” with a swimming pool. That’s a no-miss for our kids. Next week I’ll finish my final undergrad courses, and the week after that we’re off to Omaha for some genuine vacation.
Oh man, I know what you mean – about all of it. How much kids teach us, how great vacation is, all of it.
I still keep the door cracked, figuratively, in all your lives.
Awww! I love your mom’s response.
Also, Claire’s response is so awesome. What a special little lady she is. I’m praying this surgery opens up a new world to her.
Yey for Claire for being so positive. Kids like her always amaze me. Very brave.
And speaking of brave, I think giving freedom to our kids is the toughest part of parenting–at least it is for me. Each step along the way makes it a bit easier for the next one. Yesterday I let my almost 18 year old drive a group of friends up to a mountain for some natural water sliding. After a talk about no picking up the cell phone and no distracting the driver, I waved goodbye and prayed. And then I tried to not picture hidden rocks in the pool for the rest of the day. I guess I’ll always feel this way, but it’s teaching me something about what faith really is.
Beautiful post, Felicity.
After the past year, I have nothing to say, except I did burst out with a giggle at Clairs response to a wheelchair.
Hang on kiddo’s!
Great post!
I love Kathy’s response! And I love Claire’s response — she’s my hero! I think children definitely keep us on our knees!