Training and loving your children

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Proverbs 22:6     Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 

Proverbs 13:1      A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke 

Psalm 32:8     I will instruct and teach you in the way which you shall go; I will guide you with my eye.

Isaiah 54:13     All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.   

Ephesians 6:4     “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.  Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

Proverbs 29:17     Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

 

Parenting fears.                                                                                                   

I saw a very agitated Canadian goose today.  I don’t know if it was male or female, but it was definitely a parent. One of the goslings had wandered out to the street as traffic was passing. The drivers slowed, and suddenly the parent goose put itself between the oncoming traffic and the baby goose. It scolded the youngster back to the side of the road, wings flapping and squawking, and then hurried to the sidewalk. The baby was safe, but the parent continued raising and lowering its head, feathers ruffling, wings still occasionally expanding, and still letting out an annoyed sounding squawk. 

 

 

                                                                                                                                        

And I knew, because I recognized the symptoms from years ago in myself, that that parent goose was trying to ease the fright, the panic, the adrenalin which surged at the potential loss of its child.  Adrenalin surges when you have a big fear. And to any parent, the potential loss of a child is the worst fear.

Years ago, when my son was still in diapers, about 18 months old, I was gardening while he played with toys nearby.   Suddenly, I could hear a large truck downshifting fairly rapidly. I glanced around, spotted my son missing, and jumped up to find he had toddled into the street. I have no idea how I made it from the garden to him in the road as fast as I did, maybe it was a kind of flight, but thankfully, I was there and snatching him back. And I knelt and hugged him, then spanked the diaper-covered bottom, then hugged him again, crying and thanking God. The fear, the ‘almost’ which was prevented, and the relief had this cluster of feelings storming my system—the same as the poor goose who strutted trying to “smooth its feathers.” 

Have you ever watched a mother cat or dog, when those rowdy youngsters start escaping from their box or pen, or maybe they are just driving the mother to distraction and giving her no free rest.  There may be a swat or a nip to warn the youngster enough is enough.  If you watch nature shows, you’ll see how dolphins care for their young, and steer them to making right decisions, not endangering themselves.  Bear mothers train their young for eighteen months teaching them to avoid adult males which could harm or even kill them, teaching them the best places to acquire food whether it be berries, carcass of a dead animal, seeking honey, how to fish and so forth.  Parents of many species care for and train their youngsters for a period of time, then, as God has encouraged, we release them and hope and pray they have the skills and strength to make good decisions.  For many animals, there is an innate caring for the young.  And it’s pretty awesome to see how our Creator has structured this in His universe.   

Animals which raise their children have concern for their safety, supply their needs, teach their children until the child is old enough to be out on its own. But until then the worry, concern, and diligence are all there. And sometimes one can see parents of other species have the same feelings we have.   And I find that awesome to see!   It breaks my heart to see a dead baby deer or whatever and know the family has been disrupted and there is a loss in the herd, clan, group.  

Amazing that God has made us similar. Wonderful stories help me realize how similar he has made many of His creatures.  They give me and ‘mybellaviews’ surges with delight and thankfulness. Glad your baby is safe, goose.

Lord, I so appreciate the beauty You have created and allow me to see glimpses of.  You are in charge for me and ‘mybellaviews.’