We took an improv trip to the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. My husband wanted to purchase a truck down there, so we seized the opportunity to make some beach memories!
Well, I learned something about myself on this very short trip— I am much more of a river and lake gal than an ocean gal.
Don’t get me wrong, the kids had a blast, and I’ll never say no to the opportunity to go to the beach… but I prefer the known- the lakes and rivers… Midwest girl through and through here. No salt water, less sand, less humidity… (well maybe) … Plus, we already have all the river toys- rafts, tubes, squirt guns. But honestly, I just prefer what is comfortable.
My kids, however, just love the water. Thus, when we were at the beach… while it was RED flagged… there they were jumping into the waves, trying to ride them, and having the time of their lives.
My husband and I… on the other had… were trying really hard to not be anxious as we saw the enormous waves crashing all around them. One kid would be taken under by a wave and come back up smiling and laughing. One kid would fall, and another would help him up.
We had to remember—they know how to swim. They know the boundaries. They are looking out for each other. They’re going to be fine.
As parents, we give our kids the tools and hope they use them. We give our kids wisdom, and pray they follow it. We teach and model faith, and trust that God will make those seeds grow.
Never stop sowing seeds of faith for your kids! And make sure you model it too! Sometimes they hear you, but it doesn’t go past their ears. Sometimes they watch you but seem to do the exact opposite of what you would hope. We strive to help them build a solid faith, but at the end of the day it has to be their choice.
That’s why we must pray! Only God can make those seeds grow in their heart. Keep praying!!! Keep sowing!!!! And trust God with your kids!!! (I’m preaching to myself right now.)
Those waves may scare us, but our kids are being equipped to handle them. God doesn’t call us to be comfortable, He calls us to follow Him and trust Him with the details.
“Everyone then who HEARS these words of mine and DOES them will be like a wise man who built his house on the ROCK. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27