More on Transitions June 6, 2007
Posted by Joe in : General Lessons , trackbackErin,
Great practical stuff on transition times yesterday. I’m glad you wrote it, for if nothing else, I had to read it! Anyhow, I wanted to say a bit more on transitions and see if I could make a connection to parenting. We shall see if I am able. I am sure I will come up with something.
I suppose that because this is a parenting blog, I should focus on what kind of lessons we can teach our children during these times of transition. The first one that comes to mind is the one I learned last night (and one which yes, you already know!).
But for those who don’t know, Abigail (our 3 year-old) is struggling with this transition. There are other things of course, but she knows something is up. She knows she is headed to the United States and that she has to fly over the ocean to get there. But she doesn’t fully understand the fact that our house is in the United States–and that is where she is headed. All she really knows is that she was just setting into a nice routine here in Spain, enjoying her mornings at school with the other kids, some times at the pool across the street and daddy’s basketball games. And now, it’s time to move again. That’s definitely not an easy thing, especially for us sinners (big and small).
So last night during a meltdown–a full meltdown I think you could say, Abigail reached the end of the line. To cut a long story short, after asking for prayer from me for a few different things, I realized how desperate she was to fight with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. So we began to recite Psalm 23 (which she has memorized) and the Lord began to fill her and I with a sweet peace. I know it was an answer to prayer (ones I and others had just prayed), but all of the sudden I realized how much I had failed her in this regard. I had not properly trained her to fight with the Word of God.
I could say more, but suffice it to say that this has to be a central lesson during our times of transition–for both ourselves (first) and then for our children. We need to speak the promises of God to one another (and receive them–probably the hardest part!). Then we need to help our little ones do the same. Even if it means reciting the 23rd Psalm 25 times on a long plane trip. The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Lord is good my dear. And His Word is good. Let’s fight with it by the power of His Spirit for the glory of His name. And let’s teach our children how to do the same.
Fighting alongside you,
Joe
p.s. I will post my journal entry on the events of last night tomorrow. I’ll just set the timer, so we won’t miss a day–crazy bloggers we are!
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