Adulting is Hard At Times

Posted on April 8, 2024 by Lynn

It is so hard to watch your children struggle at any age, but no more so than when your adult child is going through tough times. As a parent, all I want to do is “fix” every problem for them. Ride in like a knight in shining armour and rescue them, or fiercely defend and protect them like a Mama Bear. The hardest thing for me is to just be still, let go, and let God.

Oftentimes, it’s not about my trying to rescue, defend or protect my children, it’s being their cheerleader and encourager regardless of whatever circumstance they find themselves.

I thought when my children had moved out on their own, my parenting role would be, for the most part, done.

Wow, was I wrong!

I spend more time now before the Lord, interceding on their behalf than I ever did when they were living at home. I also keep telling them (and me) that “adulting is hard at times”. The only way to get past some of the hard times is to lean on God. He may not remove the tough situations, but He will comfort and guide and get them through to the other side of any situation. It’s a given.

Oh, but it’s hard as a parent not to circumvent God’s will for them. God allows them to make mistakes, face obstacles in the work place, face challenges raising their own kids, struggle with finances, relationships, etc., etc., so they draw near to Him for direction. I dearly want to step in and give advice based on my own experiences and “wealth of knowledge”, but rather than being helpful, this sometimes comes across as parental interference and is not always met with favour by them. God graciously reminds me that my role as a parent hasn’t diminished, it’s just changed. God is in control. My role now is to pray, listen, and if asked directly by them, offer timely advice. Those conversations need to be God-directed.

It’s not my role anymore to swoop in, take over, and exercise authority over my adult children. They are exactly where God wants them to be at this particular time in their lives. There is a divine purpose in everything He allows in their lives, and in mine.

The Mama Bear in me is fully aware that while God is constantly at work in my kid’s lives, He is also constantly at work in me! May I become a better parent as a result!

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Immerse Yourself in the Easter Story

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Lynn

I have immersed myself in the Easter Story this week in Scripture readings; focusing my attention on all the dramatic events leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

For those who are not familiar with the story here is a summary:

Palm Sunday – Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-17)

Monday – Jesus Clears the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48)

Tuesday – Jesus is Questioned by the Jewish Leaders (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8)

Wednesday – Judas Betrays Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-5)

Thursday – The Last Supper; Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and His Arrest (Matthew 26:17-56; Mark 14:12-51; Luke 22: 7-53; John 13:1-38; 18:1-11)

Good Friday – Jesus is Tried, Crucified and Buried (Matthew 26:57 – 27:61; Mark 14:53-15:47; Luke 22:54 – 23:56; John 18: 12 – 19:42)

Saturday – Jesus’ Body Lies in a Tomb (Matthew 27:62-66)

Easter Sunday – Jesus Rises From The Dead! (Matthew 28:1-18; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-29)

We have the benefit of reading these eye witness accounts knowing there is a Perfect Ending to a Perfect Story.

Spoiler Alert! Jesus is Victorious and He is Coming Back Again!

I encourage you to get into the Word this week and immerse yourself in the Greatest Story Ever Told!

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The Things I Do For My Kids – Pt. 3

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Lynn

“Have you checked on the beetles?” Brett texted me.

“As a matter of fact, I have! They are really active and seem happy.” I texted back with a little happy face emoji attached.

It’s a weird conversation I thought I’d never have with my son, or with anyone for that matter. It’s also a decidedly weird regular activity for me now to check on his Dermestid beetles out in our shop. The bugs are housed in a large freezer he has modified with a heat lamp and fan to keep the critters warm. He comes to our house two or three times a week to check on the colony himself, but I am also tasked with making sure the bugs are “watered” and fed.

The colony has to grow in numbers before Brett introduces a deer skull into their environment for them to feast on. The very first time I had to feed and water the beetles myself I actually laughed out loud at the sheer absurdity of it. Last week’s blog post, I mentioned we had just had an exterminator into our home to rid us of a small infestation of silver fish. As I fried up and scrambled an egg for the beetles, the irony made me giggle.

For the last few months I have regularly fed the bugs. Opening the freezer lid, I quickly drop the egg into their midst and they immediately swarm it. Then I take the spray bottle with water that my son has humorously labeled “Beetle Juice”, and spray the cotton balls that line the bottom of the freezer. (The cotton balls act as their hideaways and a place to grow their families.).

Yesterday, my son added a deer skull into the freezer.

I am actually excited to see how the beetles are doing this morning with the skull.

Seriously.

I can’t help but hum the words to the old hymn, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” by Cecil Frances Alexander, as I prepare to check on the critters today:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The Psalm 104, verses 24 and 25 may have inspired Mrs. Alexander to pen the words to this beautiful hymn.

“How many are your works, Lord!
    In wisdom you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.”

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