Greetings Parents!
There was a terrifying moment earlier this week for my son, his friend, and I as a car ran a red light, long after other cars in my lane had crossed the intersection. I thanked my guardian angel profusely that I was looking straight ahead and that we had replaced the tires on our 20 year old car. Without both of those, you would likely not be receiving this newsletter.
As we strive to protect our children but not cease living, trying to find the balance between what is reasonable caution for our family and an awareness that life must be worth living, this moment caused some deep thinking. CoVid could be the least of our worries! We're trying to fulfill our work duties to keep earning the money to live, but without school and other activities, we are the primary means for our children to live outside of video games.
Which has me wondering, what is every day supposed to be about for me as a Mom? At first, it was protecting my children's lives from this virus, but if it happens only in a vacuum of waiting for life to return to "normal," am I leading them closer to God or deeper into indulging them in what makes them less-unhappy?
Rather than being an inconvenience, this could be that "something" that gives us an opportunity to change things up,
that helps our children look beyond the easy to find the fun that is not spoon fed. My son and his friend meet at the same time EVERY day to practice basketball - a new event because organized sports are closed. Super-cool was when he and his friend, and a couple of others (all keeping small friend circles) walked back to our house to play kick-the-can. Only one knew what the game actually was, be he enthusiastically explained to the others and they all had fun!
I admit to nostalgia and reveling in my son enjoying the simple pleasures of summertime that I had enjoyed as a child and youth.
Our neighborhood has not been this consistently busy with children since they were very young - a small geographical circle of friends riding bikes, decorating drives and sidewalks with chalk and playing tag.
What can God be saying through all of this? I get the warm fuzzies observing all of this. It has me appreciating not just these moments in themselves, but also has me wondering what we have sacrificed in earlier years that prevented these times for the sake of our children "having better opportunities." More than ever I wonder what God might be offering us in these times, as He seeks to bring us closer to Him. As anger, frustration, and resentment spill out one the news, how do we both lead our children in peace and justice and keep them safe?
That's a question that seems best brought toGod daily to receive His guidance for the day. Seeking His message on a daily basis can best help us be our children's guides and protectors in our current world that is changing rapidly. This reality we live in this year 2020 is a reminder of our constant dependence on Him for any hope to make the best choices, to maintain God's perspective - and not our limited view. Ask Him to help you find His true Will that you might fulfill best your role as parent of His little children, no matter their age!
Hug your children tight and teach them to see the world, life, and death as God sees them!
-- Linda Bader, Coordinator of Religious Education
P.S. Did you know... There are many stories of people witnessing angels standing guard around holy places or with people. The unusual part of these stories is that they are shared by those who had planned to attack were deterred - because they were the only ones who saw the angels. In one particular case, an entire army stopped because they saw a host of angels and refused to continue.
