“Parental Seasons of Life!”
After church
yesterday, Jen, the kids, and I went outside together to cut down all the dead
or dying landscape plants. “Chop, chop,
chop, and throw away!” That pattern
repeated itself as we made our way all around the house. There are a few bushes left and some fall
plants enjoying their “time to shine” right now, but our landscape looks pretty
bare and ready for winter. As for the
landscape: Now is the time to cut down. Winter is the time of dormancy. Spring is a
time for new growth. Summer is a time
for beauty. It is a pattern.
After we
worked, I had some alone time to think, and I thought about how parenting has a
multitude of “seasons” to endure – not just four! Actually, all of life has different seasons,
but the parenting seasons stick out for me because that is where Jen and I are
right now. So I started to list some
seasons I could think of for parents:
Pregnancy and
Preparation
Baby comes
home
Sleepless
nights
Another baby
on the way
Accident or
illness
Off to school
First report
card with “real” grades
A call from
the principal’s office
Driving to extra-curricular
activities
High School
Driver’s
Training then loaning out the car
Graduation
College
Significant
others
Engagement
Paying for a
wedding
Having
in-laws
Becoming
grandparents
And there are
more things all along the way
Some of these
I know from being a parent. Some I know
from observing my own parents.
Nevertheless, there is a time and season for these parental activities, but
the season doesn’t last forever. New
seasons come. We shouldn’t be
surprised. God said it would
happen: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under
heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Family
Discussion Points!
Parents, talk
about the “season” of parenting you are now in.
Like it? If not, remember,
seasons change. Enjoy the season for
what it is before it is gone.
Reminisce a
little about “seasons” past.
Talk about
“seasons” to come, but don’t let it frighten youJ
It will come and go like the rest.
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