Who is in control?

(NIV) Bible reading:

Matthew 7:11 – If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Psalm 103:17-18 – The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting in those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children. To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Why do we mothers do that? That what? Well, wasting our limited energy being anxious about our children and then trying so very hard to control their activities to the 'safe' kind.

Well, thank God for fathers, who embrace risk!
Oh my, that's my cue to go to another room and release my children to the only One Who is in control. Lysa reminded us of this today. She puts ideas down so wonderfully. [Just love it.]

She also reminded me yet again of something I wrote when my son decided to undertake a risky adventure:

When your son asks the dreaded question…

Scenario:
You’ve been waiting for your 9-year-old son after school for 10 minutes. He comes up to the car window, his big and beautiful brown eyes brimming over with anticipatory excitement, and asks the dreaded question: "Mom, can you wait 5 minutes more so I can go ice sliding with my friends?"
What to do:
Gulp hard and nod dubiously. Cautiously say, "O-ooo-K, just 5 minutes."
As he turns and runs with a whoop of delight vowing he will time it on his hi-tech watch, let your imagination run wild. See those razor sharp peaks on those ice cliffs waiting to pierce innocent puerile bodies. See the 2 biggest kids in his school cruelly plunging their enormous bodies into your son’s still softly moulding yet exquisite physique.

Immediately go into prayer warrior mode. Place a hedge of protection around every bone you can remember. If you are a mid-life Mom like me, a lot of those biological bone names have already disintegrated with some neurons. So concentrate on the femur and humerus, (no-no, that’s not the funny boneJ ). I think those are the big and important ones.

As your 4-year-old sings lustily in the backseat, "I may never march in the infatry, ride in the calorie, shoot the litilery..", silently finish, "Cuz I broke all my bones on the ice..".
Boldly chastise yourself for your utter folly in allowing your son to undertake such a risky venture, possibly jeopardizing a future military career. Let your prayers enter the "implore" and "have mercy" mode. Close your eyes and grip that steering wheel with daring power.

Open your eyes slowly to glimpse your son’s familiar form approaching the car. "Is he limping!?" Thank God profusely for that normal silly walking gait and sigh with a great sense of relief and amazement that your prayers have been so wonderfully answered. You may now breathe without that choking sensation.

As he gets closer, you notice red splotches on his face. In horror, kick yourself for forgetting to pray for his face! Who knew he would land on that beautiful face!
As he reaches the car, you realize that the red splotches are his rosy cheeks and he is beaming with delight and satisfaction. Emblazon that expression in your heart’s memory album. That moment will never return.

Let it sink in that you are the only one who is injured as your foot throbs (remember that kick?). Make a mental note to register for that anxiety disorder seminar at your church next week.

Ask ever so calmly, "So, had a good time?"
As he responds, "Oh, totally, Mom..they said that I was almost better than anyone else!" totally oblivious to your 5 minute reign of excruciating agony on his behalf. Respond, "I’m so glad, sweetie", because of course, you really are. Not only has your son mastered the science of balance in motion at supersonic speed, he has gained the respect and admiration of his peers.

Thank God for the gift of nurturing your son to independence and that you can release him to His care.
Repeat this exercise millions of times in the ensuing years.